5.1 Earthquake Rattles Nerves in Baja California

This morning a moderate 5.1 earthquake hit, near Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico, at 9:47 a.m., centered over the 2010 Easter Earthquake site. From the Southern California Seismic Network website cooperative project of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Caltech Seismological Laboratory in Pasadena, California, reporting;

"A moderate earthquake occurred at 9:47:36 AM (PST) on Friday, February 18, 2011. The magnitude 5.1 event occurred 74 km (46 miles) SSE of Calexico, CA. The hypocentral depth is 32 km (20 miles)."

Remembering the Easter Earthquake of 2010

Last year a major 7.2 earthquake rolled through Northern Baja California, and was felt as far away as Los Angeles, as well as the southern states of Arizona and Nevada, farther north. The Easter Earthquake of 2010 tossed huge waves of water from swimming pools, cracked streets open, and structural damages were reported around the epicenter near Guadalupe Victoria, up through the Mexican border towns, and across the border to locations in California and Arizona.

Although not as devastating as the other 2010 earthquakes, occurring in Haiti and Chile (with double impacts from pre-dawn tsunami coastal destruction) the Easter Earthquake in Norther Baja California, Mexico, caused major damage inland (not experienced along the coast). Many coastal residents reported feeling a "rolling sensation" as the 7.2 quake sent shockwaves out toward the Pacific Ocean.

Moderate 2011 Baja Earthquakes

Today's shaker barely rolled the Pacific coastline, with little more than a soft push. Several 3.1 to 4.1 quakes led up to an uneventful Valentine's Day, with another 3.3 foreshock yesterday morning at 10:13 a.m. These minor events were barely felt along the Baja California coastline.

The six minor shocks between February 12^th and yesterday, February 17 ^th have lead up to today's moderate 5.1 earthquake event, as similarly witnessed before last year's major Baja Easter Earthquake (registering 7.2). Baja residents and Southern Californians hope today's quake is not foretelling another major springtime jolt, rivaling the events of 2010.