An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 occurred approximately 6 miles east of Thermopolis, Wyoming at 3:10 a.m. MST on January 9, 2007. Residents of Thermopolis felt the minimal-intensity earthquake, but no damage has yet been reported.

The Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) received data about the earthquake from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colorado. The USGS estimated the depth of the earthquake at approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), and located the epicenter 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of Thermopolis and 41 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Worland. The USGS classified the earthquake as minor.

The WSGS has generated seismological characterizations of all Wyoming counties, available at http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/wsgs/hazards/quakes/seischar/seischar.html. These characterizations include analyses of historic seismicity for each county as well as projections of possible future earthquakes.

For more information, please contact Seth Wittke by phone at (307) 766-2286, ext. 244, or by email at wittkesj@uwyo.edu.

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