A 3.9 magnitude earthquake hits the Permian Basin

Tropical Storm Bertha brings winds and coastal flooding to the Gulf Coast

Parts of Texas could also see tropical storm force winds through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

An earthquake shook the Permian Basin region of Texas, the second earthquake felt in the state today.

The 3.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Westbrook, Texas — northwest of Big Spring — just after 12:15 p.m. Central Time on July 23, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS said the quake was at a depth of 7.7 kilometers (4.7 miles) and could be felt as far as Midland.

The first quake, with a magnitude of 5.1, occurred around 5:20 a.m. EDT in the Texas Panhandle.

What causes earthquakes?

The Earth consists of four layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. The crust and the top of the mantle form another region called the lithosphere, which acts like the skin surrounding the Earth’s surface.

However, the lithosphere is not one piece, and exists like a puzzle or a series of fragments, according to the USGS. These parts of the lithosphere are not stationary and move slowly. These are called “tectonic plates”.

When tectonic plates move close to each other, they sometimes collide or collide. This puts pressure on the edges of the plates. When the pressure becomes too great, it creates cracks called “flaws.” The point where these faults move against each other is called the ‘fault line’.

When there is a lot of friction between fault lines, energy is suddenly released, creating seismic waves that trigger an earthquake.

Can earthquakes be predicted?

Earthquakes cannot be predicted. Neither the USGS nor scientists have predicted a major earthquake, and there is no expectation that will change in the near future.

Are earthquakes increasing?

While it may seem that earthquakes occur more often, especially with real-time alerts and widespread media coverage, the overall rate of earthquakes has remained relatively stable over time.

According to the USGS, any given year may appear busier because of improvements in technology that allow scientists to detect more small earthquakes than in the past, not because more earthquakes are actually occurring.

Long-term global records dating back to 1900 show that the Earth experiences an average of about 16 large earthquakes (magnitude 7.0 or greater) each year – typically 15 in the 7.0 range and one magnitude 8.0 or higher. In 2024, there were 10 earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater, the strongest of which was a magnitude 7.5 in Japan.

However, the risk of earthquake vulnerability is increasing due to increased human and economic exposure and the number of assets being built in high-risk earthquake areas, FEMA said in a 2023 report.

What to do during an earthquake

An evergreen classic box that pairs well with any earthquake story.

Get down on your hands and knees, cover your head and neck under sturdy furniture if possible, hold on until the shaking stops, and stay indoors unless you are near a known coastal tsunami hazard area.

Matthew Roseles is the Texas Connect correspondent for USA TODAY and its regional newspapers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at [email protected].

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