These small quakes are stacking up in SC’s Lowcountry and Midlands this year, with Irmo’s M1.9 on Sunday (Feb 15, 11:57 PM) and M2.8 on Friday (Feb 13, ~6:45 PM) adding to clusters near Charleston (M1.5-2.9 this month). All too weak for damage, but USGS data shows a busier-than-usual pattern—over a dozen felt events YTD vs. the typical 3-5 annually.
Quick Pattern Breakdown
- Midlands (e.g., Irmo/Lake Murray): Recent trio ties into west-Columbia swarm; shallow depths (~3-5 km) make them feelable locally.
- Lowcountry (Charleston area): Uptick in Summerville zone, historically active since 1886.
- Why now? Natural fault slips, possibly from regional stress; no volcanic or induced quake links.
SCEMD’s earthquake.sc page is spot-on for history—covers the 1886 beast and 1913 Union County M5.5. Full USGS catalog: earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/search (filter SC, 2026).
Locals like you in the Mount Pleasant/North Charleston area might feel these next—standard prep still applies: anchor hazards, know your exit routes.
Tracking any personal shakes, or need a running route detour around Lake Murray for safety?
