The 3.8 magnitude earthquake that struck York, Maine on January 27, 2025, is the strongest since 2012.
13 years ago 3 miles west of Hollis Center, Maine, a 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattled New England on October 16, 2012, at about 2:12 PM.
Although of greater intensity, with a magnitude of 4.7 versus 3.8, the October 2012 earthquake was farther Northwest of Boston, so the city did not feel the impact.
The earthquake of January 27, 2025, occurred at 10:22 AM. With the earthquake originating off the coast of York, Maine, the impact rattled Boston and most of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.
The 3.8 magnitude quake is the third strongest New England earthquake to occur in the 21st century according to the United States Geological Survey. With some of the highest magnitude earthquakes in New England from the 21st century documented below:
- October 2012: 4.7 magnitude; Hollis Center, Maine
- July 2006: 3.9 Magnitude; Winterville, Maine
- January 2025: 3.8 Magnitude; York, Maine
- October 2006: 3.7 Magnitude; Bar Harbor, Maine
- November 2020: 3.6 Magnitude; Bliss Corner, Massachusetts
Although there are hundreds of documented minor quakes in New England’s history, the low depth of today’s earthquake caused quite the rumbling. These earthquakes, with depths below 70 kilometers, are referred to as “shallow earthquakes.” 75% of all earthquakes are shallow.
Shallow earthquakes tend to be more noticeable and more destructive than deep earthquakes as they release energy closer to the surface of the earth and cause more aftershocks. However, there are many factors—magnitude, depth, soil composition, infrastructure, origin point, and more—that influence the impacts of an earthquake.