Did You Feel the Earthquake?

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city.

Railroad line, Somonauk, Illinois, 64 miles west of Chicago.Photo byDavid Wilson / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

(CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

People feeling a low rumble may have thought it was thunder from the storms that shook the area overnight.

The USGS shared on their community map, Did You Feel It?, that people all over the Chicago area may have felt the earthquake.

Community Internet Intensity Map by USGSPhoto byUnited States Geological Survey

People in the Chicago suburbs reported feeling the earthquake on a local Facebook weather group. One person in Darien, IL said, "My house had been rumbling from thunder all night but this was different it literally woke me." Another person in the Mongtomery/Yorkville area reported feeling the shaking, "along with a strange sound."

A 3.4 magnitude earthquake may cause tremors, but it's not strong enough to cause damage. According to the USGS, damage usually won't occur until the magnitude reaches 4 or 5.

According to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, during any 50 years, there is a 25 to 40% chance that a magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquake will occur in the area. The largest earthquake to ever hit the U.S. outside of Alaska was in Missouri in 1812.

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