10th earthquake this year hits western NC early Thursday

BRYSON CITY, N.C. (WNCN) — Another small earthquake was reported in western North Carolina.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the 2.0 magnitude earthquake happened near Bryson City around 5:50 a.m. on Tuesday. The quake was about 8.9 miles deep and was the 4th quake near Bryson City, NC already this month.

This was the tenth earthquake in North Carolina so far this year, and the third to hit near Bryson City in the last few weeks, the last being a little over two weeks ago.

There were 20 earthquakes in North Carolina in 2023, the largest being a magnitude 3.2 in early June in West Canton, North Carolina, which is west of Asheville.

CBS 17 Chief Meteorologist Wes Hohenstein says “Most earthquakes recorded in the Carolinas are 2.5 or less. While there have been large earthquakes in the Carolinas in the past, the overall risk of quakes is low.”

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality says there have been a few strong earthquakes in the North Carolina mountains in the last 100 years. In 1916 there was a magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Skyland, NC in Buncombe County.

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Two small quakes also rattled in Surry County on March 31 near Sparta. Both were 2.3 and 1.5 magnitude quakes.

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