How often do earthquakes happen? Another 2.3-magnitude earthquake shakes Knoxville
The earthquake rattled the region at 12:16 a.m. on Sunday morning, according to the USGS. It had a very shallow depth of 2.4 kilometers, or about 1.5 miles below the Earth's surface.
Shallow earthquakes, such as the July 27 event, are generally not felt as widely as ones that occur deeper below the Earth's surface, according to USGS scientist Jessica Turner. Small, shallow earthquakes can be felt in a contained and refined area.
The universal magnitude scale shows that earthquakes as minor as 2.5 can be felt in a community and could cause minor damage. Typically, building damage starts at 5.5 magnitude, according to earthquake experts at Michigan Tech University.
An estimated 500,000 earthquakes of 2.5 to 5.4 magnitude happen each year.
This is the fifth earthquake to happen in East Tennessee in the past month alone. All of the events are considered "fairly small," as none of the earthquakes had a magnitude greater than 3.0.
While that sounds like a lot of seismic activity, the pattern and frequency are normal for the region, according to Turner.
In 2024, East Tennessee saw seven earthquakes between June 29 and July 28, according to USGS data. All of the earthquakes were below a 2.5 magnitude and are considered minor.
How often do earthquakes happen in Tennessee?
Earthquakes are fairly common in East Tennessee. Since the beginning of 2025, there have been more than 35 earthquakes in East Tennessee. One of those earthquakes was a major 4.1-magnitude event, which occurred on May 10. Five of those events have happened in July.
July 27: Mascot, Tennessee, 2.3 magnitude
July 20: Athens, Tennessee, 2.4 magnitude
July 14: Dayton, Tennessee, 2.2 magnitude
July 9: Greenback, Tennessee, 2.6 magnitude
July 1: Lone Oak, Tennessee, 2.3 magnitude
There were 177 earthquakes in Tennessee in 2024, according to USGS data. Ten of those were 2.5 magnitude or higher.
What have been the strongest earthquakes in East Tennessee?
These are the 10 strongest earthquakes to rattle East Tennessee since 1900, according to USGS data.
4.7 magnitude – Alcoa (1973)
4.5 magnitude – Greenville (1928)
4.4 magnitude – Decatur (2018)
4.2 magnitude – Vonore (1987)
4.1 magnitude – New Tazewell (1956)
4.1 magnitude – Luttrell (1913)
4.1 magnitude – Greenback (2025)
3.8 magnitude – Tazewell (1997)
3.8 magnitude – Fincastle (2020)
3.7 magnitude – Ducktown (1979)
Is it possible to prepare for an earthquake?
Unlike tornadoes or hurricanes, scientists can't predict earthquakes. USGS scientists don't know where or when an earthquake might happen; they can only estimate the probability of such geological events.
However, that doesn't mean you can't prepare for the eventuality of an earthquake.
Before an earthquake happens, make an emergency plan and secure heavy items in your home and objects that hang on the wall, according to ready.gov. Store any heavy or breakable objects on low shelves.
When an earthquake happens, it's important to drop to the ground, grab onto a sturdy object and cover your head, according to ready.gov. If you're outside when an earthquake begins to rumble, get to an open area free of buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines.
Allison Kiehl reports on trending and breaking news for the Tennessee Connect team. Email: allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: East Tennessee sees 5 earthquakes in July 2025. Is this normal?
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