Updated
Updated · Patch · Jul 8
2.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Lake Michigan 13 Miles Off Evanston
Updated
Updated · Patch · Jul 8

2.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Lake Michigan 13 Miles Off Evanston

3 articles · Updated · Patch · Jul 8

Summary

  • A 2.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 2:39 p.m. Wednesday in Lake Michigan about 13 miles off Evanston, with the epicenter off Chicago’s North Shore communities.
  • USGS said the quake struck 3.1 miles below the lake surface, placing it near Kenilworth, Wilmette and Winnetka along the Illinois shoreline.
  • Shaking from the minor tremor was felt as far as Madison, Wisconsin, roughly 114 miles from Chicago, showing the event was noticed well beyond the immediate area.
  • USGS is asking residents to complete its “Did You Feel It?” survey to document where the quake was felt and how strongly fixtures and buildings moved.

Insights

Does a rare quake near Chicago signal a growing seismic threat in a region unprepared for disaster?
What is causing ancient faults under the Great Lakes to stir after millions of years of silence?