WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A 2.4 magnitude earthquake hit Winston-Salem Sunday morning at 8:59 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Service.
The small earthquake jarred residents, notably in the southwestern part of Winston-Salem. The epicenter is located near the intersection of Old Salisbury Road and Gyro Drive, just east of Salisbury Court Apartments.
Neighbors told WFMY News 2 they heard a loud boom sound, following by the earth shaking for several seconds.
"It was very quick, but it was very powerful. You're standing, and you're shaking, and you hear parts of the house making noise," said resident Ivory Simmons. She and her mother were at home when the earthquake occurred.
Some residents remarked that they felt less intense rumbling in the days before Sunday's earthquake.
Marcia Steele was enjoying her morning coffee when the earthquake shook her up.
"All the sudden I heard a 'BOOM.' It was really loud one. And I could feel the vibrations. It didn't knock anything down, no damage, but it was definitely an earthquake," Steele said.
The 2.4-magnitude quake was recorded as having a 2 km depth.
If you felt the shakes you can report it to the USGS. File your report here So far, there have been no reports of damage, according to officials.
If you have home, security, or doorbell camera footage of the earthquake please submit the video here, using Near Me feature of our site or on the APP.
Earthquakes are rare in our area. They are more likely to occur along the spine of the Appalachians. However, as we have seen in recent years, they do happen in the Foothills and Piedmont.
Earthquakes in our area are usually weak. They usually measure 2.0 to 2.5 on the Richter Scale. Earthquakes this weak are often not felt. However, the Sparta Earthquake on Sunday August 9, 2020, measured 5.1 on the Richter Scale. It was felt over much of North Carolina and surrounding states.