Half Moon earthquake measures 3.9 magnitude

A magnitude 3.9 earthquake centered on the Half Moon area rattled homes and businesses in Northwest Montana around midnight on Friday, Nov. 14.

The U.S. Geological Survey revised their earilier report that the earthquake measured 4.5 in magnitude and hit just two miles east of downtown Whitefish and about 5.5 miles beneath the earth’s surface.

On Saturday, USGS reported that the earthquake measured 3.9 in magnitude and was centered about three miles northwest of Columbia Falls and about 8.4 miles deep. An earthquake of this size is unlikely to cause any serious damage, based on USGS standards.

“We felt the earthquake quite strongly here,” said Johanna Waldheim, who lives near the Blue Moon Nite Club on U.S. 2. “It felt like our home was lifted up and put down.”

Residents reported feeling the quake in Kila, Martin City and elsewhere across the Flathead. Online seismographs indicate the quake could have been felt as far away as Yellowstone National Park.

A 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Marion area west of Kalispell on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 11.