Small Earthquake Recorded In Newington Tuesday

NEWINGTON, CT — A 1.6 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Newington on Tuesday afternoon, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The quake likely did not do any damage, because generally earthquakes with magnitudes measuring less than 2.5 often are not felt but can be picked up by a seismograph, the USGS says.

Tuesday's earthquake appears to have originated in Alaska, writes NBC Connecticut's Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan.

While earthquakes are not uncommon in Connecticut, they are rare. In January 2019, a 4.7 magnitude earthquake in Maryland was felt in Connecticut, and Newington was among the Connecticut communities to record a 1.9 magnitude one in December 2017.

In February 2018, a minor earthquake was recorded in Ridgefield, and there was another one recorded in the state in November 2017.

Earthquakes typically last less than a minute and can occur anywhere in the U.S., according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They happen when there is movement along fault lines below the earth's surface.