Small earthquake shakes northern Utah

BLUFFDALE — A small earthquake hit northern Utah Friday morning, shaking residents of northern Utah and southern Salt Lake Counties.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey's website, the 3.2-magnitude quake struck at about 8:45 a.m. Data shows the epicenter was about 3 1/2 miles southwest of Bluffdale.

There are no immediate reports of damage or injury.

Kristine Pankow, associate director of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, said the quake happened in the same area as a 4.1 magnitude earthquake recorded in 1992.

She said it was unlikely that the earthquake was a foreshock, which is an earthquake that preludes a larger one. However, small aftershocks are more likely to occur in the area of Friday's 3.2-magitude quake.

Earthquakes of 3.0 magnitude happen about once a month, but most aren't felt because the quake could rattle in lesser populated areas, Pankow said.

“(It's) sort of a good reminder that even though we are not feeling earthquakes we are definitely in earthquake country," she said.

Earlier this year, in a first-of-its-kind study, scientists released an earthquake forecast for the Wasatch Front, saying that “in the next 50 years, there is a 43 percent probability of a magnitude 6.75 or greater earthquake, and a 57 percent probability of a magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquake.”

Contributing: Carter Williams

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