Earthquake Hits Illinois: Where It Hit, How Strong It Was

ILLINOIS — A 3.3 magnitude earthquake was confirmed Monday in Central Illinois, the United States Geological Survey said.

The quake was felt just south of Lerna, Illinois, in Coles County, about 50 miles south of Champaign.

According to the Richter scale, a 3.3 magnitude earthquake is categorized as "slight," meaning it's often felt by people, but rarely causes damage. With an earthquake of this magnitude, the shaking of indoor objects may also be noticed.

The scale measures the magnitude of earthquakes from 1 to 10, with 10 being the strongest, causing "near total destruction" including severe damage or collapse to all buildings and permanent changes to ground topography.

The strongest earthquake ever recorded in Illinois was a 5.3 magnitude, or "moderate," quake that occurred Nov. 9, 1968 near Norris City in southern Illinois. It was felt widely across the Midwest and caused building damage, including the toppling of chimneys, as far away as Chicago.

Monday's earthquake happened less than a year after a 3.4 magnitude quake hit Illinois in July 2024 near Somonauk, which is in DeKalb and La Salle counties. Some residents reported being jolted awake by the quake, which hit just before 3 a.m., or thinking a car had hit their house. People reported feeling that quake in areas including Aurora, Oswego and Plainfield.

Monday's earthquake in central Illinois struck at 11:43 p.m., around 6 miles below the earth's surface, the United States Geological Survey said.

Find more information on Monday's earthquake on the USGS website, or make a report if you felt it.

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