Magnitude 2.7 Earthquake Rattles Southeast Michigan, Second in Two Weeks

Key facts

• A magnitude 2.7 earthquake struck near Carleton, Michigan, on May 4 at 5:32 p.m.
• The quake was centered 1.2 miles west of Carleton at a depth of 5.2 kilometers.
• It was felt as far north as Ann Arbor and Dearborn Heights, and south to Toledo, Ohio.
• This is the second earthquake in the region in two weeks, following a 2.9-magnitude quake on April 26 near Amherstburg, Ontario.
• The April 26 quake was centered 4.3 miles south-southeast of Amherstburg, near the mouth of the Detroit River.
• No damage was reported.
• The USGS noted that earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 to 5.4 are often felt but cause only minor damage.
• Monday's quake is the first in southeast Michigan since a magnitude 3.2 earthquake in Detroit Beach in August 2020.

A Light Tremor Shakes the Region

A magnitude 2.7 earthquake struck northern Monroe County, Michigan, on Monday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake occurred at 5:32 p.m., centered less than 2 miles west of the Village of Carleton, at a depth of 5.2 kilometers (about 3.2 miles). feeling the tremor. The USGS 'Did You Feel It?' website logged responses from communities including Trenton, Rockwood, Grosse Ile, and as far north as Ann Arbor and Dearborn Heights. The shaking also crossed the Ohio border, reaching just north of Toledo. Despite being felt over a wide area, Monroe County Central Dispatch confirmed there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Second Quake in Two Weeks

Monday's earthquake is the second recorded tremor in the region in the span of two weeks. On April 26, a magnitude 2.9 earthquake struck about 4.3 miles south-southeast of Amherstburg, Ontario, near the mouth of the Detroit River where it meets Lake Erie. That quake was felt in Ontario and parts of southeastern Michigan, including Detroit, Downriver, and Monroe County. The April 26 event occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m., according to the USGS. It was centered just over 4 miles off the coast of southern Ontario and was felt in Michigan communities such as Trenton, Rockwood, and Grosse Ile.

Seismic Context in Michigan

Michigan is not within a high-risk seismic zone, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which reports a very small probability of a damaging earthquake in the state. However, there are some old, mostly inactive fault lines. A fault near Kalamazoo caused a magnitude 4.2 earthquake in 2015, and a magnitude 4.6 quake struck Coldwater in 1947 along the same fault line. Monday's quake was the first in southeast Michigan since a magnitude 3.2 earthquake hit the Monroe County community of Detroit Beach in August 2020. Since the year 2000, Michigan residents have felt only four minor earthquakes, all originating in the Ontario, Canada area. The largest was a magnitude 3.4 in April 2018, followed by the 2.9-magnitude quake on April 26.

What the Numbers Mean

The USGS classifies earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or less as usually not felt by humans, while those between 2.5 and 5.4 are often felt and may cause minor damage.'s quake, at 2.7, falls into the latter category. Globally, there are more than 150,000 earthquakes of this size in an average year, the USGS notes. The agency encourages anyone who felt the quake to report it on its website to help refine data on shaking intensity and reach.

No Immediate Threat, but Continued Monitoring

Jana Pursley of the USGS office in Denver said Monday's quake was the first in southeast Michigan since the 2020 Detroit Beach event. The USGS continues to monitor the region for any further seismic activity. While the probability of a damaging earthquake in Michigan remains very low, the recent pair of tremors has drawn attention to the region's subtle seismic activity. Residents are reminded that reporting felt earthquakes helps scientists better understand local geology and hazards.

The bottom line

• A magnitude 2.7 earthquake struck near Carleton, Michigan, on May 4, felt across a wide area including Ohio.
• It is the second earthquake in the region in two weeks, following a 2.9-magnitude quake near Amherstburg, Ontario, on April 26.
• from either event.
• Michigan has a very low risk of damaging earthquakes, but minor tremors occur occasionally along old fault lines.
• The USGS encourages public reporting of felt earthquakes to improve seismic data.