Last Updated on January 3, 2026 11:32 am
AVERY COUNTY – A minor earthquake was recorded in Avery County early Saturday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The 1.7-magnitude quake struck at 1:06 a.m., centered approximately 4 miles west-southwest of Newland in and 21 miles southwest of Boone. The earthquake had a depth of less than 1 mile.
The USGS preliminary report indicates the temblor was also located approximately 23 miles southeast of Elizabethton, Tennessee and 26 miles southeast of Johnson City, Tennessee.
Earthquakes of this magnitude are typically not felt and rarely cause damage. The USGS classifies quakes below magnitude 2.5 as generally not felt except by very few people under especially favorable conditions.
North Carolina experiences occasional seismic activity, though significant earthquakes are rare in the region. The area lies within the eastern Tennessee seismic zone, which extends into western North Carolina.
No damage or injuries have been reported.
For more information on the history of earthquakes in the High Country visit the High Country Earthquake History page.
Graphics: USGS
