Feb. a Shaky Month for North Jersey

February has been a shaky month for North Jersey. Literally.

Scientists say as many as five earthshaking events have hit the area since Feb. 2 -- most in Morris County.

At least three are considered earthquakes; two may have been aftershocks.

Alexander Gates, chair of Rutgers-Newark Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, says it's uncommon to get five seismic events so close together.

He says New Jersey usually gets two or three small quakes in a year.

On Feb. 2, a 3.0 magnitude quake rattled windows and alarmed residents of Rockaway, Dover and Morris Plains. A 2.2 magnitude quake on Valentine's Day shook residents in Boonton and neighboring Montville.

An aftershock was felt in Montville on Monday afternoon, but was too weak to be noticed by most people, as was one near Teterboro Airport in Bergen County an hour later.

A third 2.3 magnitude quake hit Wednesday morning just outside Dover.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us