A magnitude 2.6 earthquake hit near McCormick, South Carolina, on Thursday morning, having little impact, but gaining residents' attention given the timing being so close to Hurricane Florence's landfall.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake hit McCormick, located about 80 miles from Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday morning. The quake registered as a magnitude 2.6 and had a depth of about 300 feet.
Earthquakes are measured by the Richter magnitude scale, which was found in 1935. The magnitude has a corresponding intensity, which is recorded on the abbreviated modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. A magnitude 2.6 earthquake falls in the lowest category on the Mercalli Intensity Scale, according to the USGS, meaning it's usually not felt except by very few people.
This was the fifth earthquake in South Carolina in 2018, according to The State, but WHNS reported that many such earthquakes aren't felt by humans and small earthquakes in the Palmetto State aren't uncommon.
While the earthquake did not cause any damage, many were quick to point out the timing of the natural phenomenon as it occurred while parts of the state are hunkering down to weather Hurricane Florence.
One user tweeted that it was unnecessary to have all the natural disasters in one week and others wondered what South Carolina did to anger the weather Gods.
Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall on Thursday night into Friday morning and possibly stall over parts of the Carolinas, bringing with it torrential rain and potentially life-threatening floods. The South Carolina areas of Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Horry, Inland Georgetown, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg are all under a flash flood watch.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jenni Fink is a senior editor at Newsweek, based in New York. She leads the National News team, reporting on ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
