Feel the Earth Move in Amarillo? It Was Probably an Earthquake

Amarillo is in the middle of the Texas Panhandle and the last thing you would expect is earthquakes.  However, the Texas Panhandle has seen its share of earthquakes in the last year.

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Millions of earthquakes happen all over the United States and are usually unfelt because the magnitude is 2.5 or less.  However, those quakes register on a seismograph.

Those earthquakes that register 2.5 - 5.4 are felt and may cause minor damage.

The Texas Panhandle's strongest earthquake occurred almost 100 years ago on July 25, 1925.  An earthquake hit the Panhandle, Texas, and had a 5.4 magnitude.

That was a very strong earthquake. However, the city's last significant quake was in October 2018, registering at 4.0 magnitude.

I remember that vividly, it was a Saturday morning, I was sitting on the couch and my house started shaking.  I thought a big truck drove down my alley.  I was shocked we had an earthquake in Amarillo.

 

Earthquakes are not uncommon in Amarillo.

There have been 18 earthquakes in Amarillo in the past year. The most significant quake to hit Amarillo within the last year occurred on August 14, 2023, at 11:45 am, registering at 3.4.

Out of the 18 earthquakes, 1 (mentioned above) were over a 3 magnitude, 12 were at a magnitude between 2 and 3, and 5 were under a 2 magnitude.

Isn't it crazy that something we only thought happened in California happens here very often, but they are so small most people don't feel a thing, or just chuck it up to something else?

Many of the earthquakes in the Texas Panhandle are caused by oil and gas extraction, including petroleum production and fracking.

The next time you feel the earth move in Amarillo, it's likely real.