Kenilworth, IL – A small earthquake was recorded beneath Lake Michigan Tuesday afternoon just off the North Shore of Illinois, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
According to the USGS, the earthquake measured magnitude 2.9 and occurred at 2:38 p.m. CDT (19:38:43 UTC) approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) east-northeast of Kenilworth, Illinois.
The agency reported the quake originated at a depth of approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) beneath the lakebed.
The epicenter was located offshore in Lake Michigan, east of communities including Kenilworth, Wilmette, Evanston, Highland Park, and Chicago’s North Shore.
Earthquakes of this size are generally considered minor and typically cause little to no damage, though they may be felt by people close to the epicenter. As of Tuesday evening, the USGS had received a small number of public “Did You Feel It?” reports from residents in the region.
There have been no reports of injuries or damage associated with the earthquake.
While earthquakes are relatively uncommon in Illinois, small seismic events do occur occasionally throughout the Midwest. Most are too weak to cause structural damage but can be detected by sensitive monitoring equipment and occasionally felt by nearby residents.
The USGS continues to review data from the event. Additional information, including community reports and any aftershocks, will be posted through the agency’s earthquake monitoring system as it becomes available.
