JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A moderate sized magnitude 4.0 earthquake has been reported off of Florida's east coast, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The USGS says it happened around 10:50 p.m. Wednesday, about 100 miles offshore from Cape Canaveral.
Some people in Melbourne and Palm Bay reported feeling minor shaking, according to the USGS.
The threat of earthquakes are very low around Florida, although something similar to this has happened before in a very similar area.
In June 2021 the Navy performed shock trials of the USS Gerald R. Ford, about 100 miles off Florida's east coast. Those trials and explosions registered as a magnitude 3.9.
We have reached out to the Navy to see if that's potentially what happened.
Since the year 2000, the USGS database shows only one other earthquake in this general region: a 3.3 magnitude quake recorded about 86 miles east-northeast of St. Augustine, Florida.
Eight other reports of shaking — called "experimental explosions" — have been reported in this area, as well, though these were located above the sea floor and conducted by the Navy.
An earthquake occurs when two blocks of the Earth suddenly slip past one another, according to the USGS. There is very little lead time ahead of an earthquake. If indoors, drop to the ground and hold onto something sturdy while covering your head and neck. It's also advised that people caught outdoors should stay outside and away from buildings.
