Magnitude 4.0 Quake Shakes Parts Of Montana

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake shook parts of northwest Montana on Tuesday afternoon, but no damage was reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey picked up the earthquake at about 3:33 p.m. The temblor’s epicenter was 31 miles northeast of Thompson Falls and 3.5 miles below the Earth’s surface.

It shook Thompson Falls and could be felt as far as Hot Springs, about 30 miles to the east.

Hot Springs resident Eric Potts, who is originally from California, told The Missoulian he and his wife felt a “pre-roll” and a “pre-bump” before they felt the rolling effect of the earthquake.

The last earthquake of such magnitude in the area struck Missoula exactly three years ago on Nov. 11, 2011, and registered at 4.2. Its epicenter was 13 miles southeast of Clinton.