Two Small Earthquakes Shake Western Carolina Mountains

Western North Carolina and surrounding areas have experienced a series of small earthquakes recently, with the epicenter near Lake Toxaway and Rosman in Transylvania County. Notably, a 4.1 magnitude earthquake on May 10 near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line was widely felt across multiple states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. More recent quakes include a 2.4 magnitude tremor on a Friday and a 2.1 magnitude quake early Saturday morning, both centered near Rosman, with shaking felt up to 31 miles away. These seismic events are part of a pattern of minor earthquakes in the inland Carolinas region, an area far from major plate boundaries but still subject to occasional tremors. While the southeastern U.S. carries some earthquake risk, damage is uncommon unless quakes exceed magnitudes of 4 or 5. Residents are encouraged to report their experiences to help officials track these events and their impacts.