3.6-magnitude earthquake shakes Central California, geologists say

A 3.6-magnitude earthquake shook part of Central California on Sunday, Feb. 20, geologists say.

The earthquake rattled Tres Pinos, about 6 miles southeast of Hollister shortly after 9 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Light shaking could be felt along the California coast near Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay, USGS reported.

A 3.6-magnitude earthquake is weaker than some Californians may be used to. Some people on social media were asking if they were the only ones who felt the earthquake.

“It was just barely, I mean barely noticeable here at the NWS office in Monterey (didn’t think much of it until mentioned),” the National Weather Service Bay Area said on Twitter.

More than 220 people reported feeling the earthquake to the USGS.

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale.

Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Quakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

This story was originally published February 21, 2022 at 6:54 AM.