A 3.5 magnitude earthquake centered in Ballard County struck early Sunday morning. NOAA Meteorologist Kevin Smith says most quakes in this region are below a 2.5 magnitude and are hardly felt at all. Smith says the epicenter was around 8.5 miles deep, whereas most earthquakes bottom out at six.
“Once you get an entire magnitude higher of 3 or 3.5 those are more noticeable,” says Smith.
The quake occurred around 1:12 a.m., and was centered 8.7 miles northwest of La Center, about 39 miles from Paducah.
Smith says the quake was felt as far as western Kentucky, southern Illinois and southeast Missouri. No damage or injuries were reported. A recent study by the United States Geological Survey projects an increase in short-term risk for natural earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone for 2016. The forecast is also the first to show potential ground-shaking hazards from both human-induced and natural earthquakes.
