A swarm of earthquakes struck in the Imperial Valley on Wednesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The quakes started around 4:45 p.m. northeast of Westmorland near Brawley, with the largest quake, a 4.9 magnitude, occurring at 5:51 p.m., the USGS said.
That quake was felt as far as Oceanside and Tijuana, according to the USGS.
The quakes have, so far, ranged from magnitude 2.5 to 4.9.
The swarm happening now south of the Salton Sea, near Westmoreland is over 30 km south of the end of the San Andreas. It is in the Brawley seismic zone, a common source of swarms. So far largest is M4.4. Too far from the San Andreas to change the probability of a quake on it.
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) September 30, 2020
An earthquake swarm is common in this area, said Lucy Jones, a retired USGS seismologist. They are happening in the Brawley Seismic Zone, a network of small faults connecting the San Andreas and Imperial faults.
They are too far away from the San Andreas to change the probability of a quake on it, she tweeted.
