Rare 4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Reported Off FL’s Atlantic Coast: USGS

FLORIDA — A rare 4.0 magnitude earthquake was reported off Florida’s Atlantic Coast Wednesday night just before 11 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake was recorded about 100 miles from Cape Canaveral.

While many communities across the state didn’t feel the quake, weak to light shaking was reported as far north as areas outside Jacksonville to as far south as Pompano Beach on the east coast and even on the other side of the state in the Tampa Bay area, according to the USGS Community Internet Intensity Map.

Most reports came from those between Daytona Beach and Port Saint Lucie.

"So this is a pretty small earthquake. The dimension of the fault is about a kilometer across. That is not very large," Steve McNutt with the USF School of Geosciences told WESH.

Those who felt the earthquake can report their experiences to USGS here.

Earthquakes aren’t common in Florida, experts said.

“It's a stable region,” Paul Earle, a seismologist with the USGS, told ABC News. “That being said, as we just learned, it does have earthquakes, but much rarer than in other areas.”

The largest earthquake ever recorded in the state was a magnitude 4.4 that was possibly centered in Putnam County, according to ClickOrlando.com. Those closest to the center of the quake also felt a second tremor not long after the first.

This earthquake was felt across northern Florida, including Cedar Key, Gainesville, Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Tallahassee.