Was there a earthquake in Maryland today?

Was There an Earthquake in Maryland Today? Let’s Check It Out.

Alright, let’s get straight to the point: As of this morning, August 11, 2025, around 6 AM local time, there haven’t been any confirmed reports of significant earthquakes rumbling through Maryland.

Now, you might be thinking, “Earthquakes in Maryland? Seriously?” And yeah, I get it. Maryland isn’t exactly known as earthquake country like California. But, believe it or not, we do get the occasional tremor. The Maryland Geological Survey actually considers parts of our state to be at moderate risk for earthquake damage. Who knew, right? That’s why they’ve set up the Maryland Seismic Network – basically, a bunch of super-sensitive ears listening for any rumbles under our feet. They keep tabs on what’s happening locally and even monitor earthquakes around the globe. Pretty cool, huh?

A Little Shake, Rattle, and Roll Down Memory Lane

So, what kind of seismic activity are we talking about? Well, back on June 25, 2024, some folks in Maryland felt a tiny 1.8 magnitude earthquake, centered in Montgomery County. It was more of a “micro” earthquake – the kind you might not even notice unless you were really paying attention, but the instruments definitely picked it up. And remember that bigger 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook New Jersey in April 2024? Yeah, we felt that one here too!

Since 2024, Maryland has experienced 18 quakes of magnitudes up to 3.0. Most of the time, these things are small potatoes – below a 4 on the Richter scale. I’m talking about the kind of quake that might make your pictures rattle on the wall, but nothing too dramatic.

Why Does the Earth Move in Maryland?

Here’s the deal: Maryland isn’t sitting on a major tectonic plate boundary like California or Alaska. Instead, our earthquakes happen on ancient fault zones – think of them as old cracks in the Earth’s crust that formed millions of years ago when the continent was taking shape. They’re more like those little cracks you see in a pie crust than the massive plate boundaries out West. Stress builds up on these weak spots, and every now and then, they slip, causing a little shake.

Keeping an Eye on Things

The Maryland Geological Survey is on the case, constantly monitoring earthquake activity with the Maryland Seismic Network. The data they collect goes to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), where it’s analyzed and added to a big database.

Now, if you think you’ve felt an earthquake in Maryland, don’t just sit there wondering! Head over to the USGS Earthquake Information website and report it. That way, they can get a better handle on what’s going on and confirm if there really was a seismic event. Stay safe out there!