ELGIN, South Carolina — The USGS is providing scenarios to estimate the chance of larger earthquakes as part of an ongoing swarm in the region.  

The swarm began on December 27, 2021, with a magnitude 3.3 earthquake. The largest earthquake to occur so far has been a magnitude 3.6 event on June 29, 2022.   

An earthquake “swarm” refers to a prolonged sequence of earthquakes that lacks any clear primary event or mainshock, in contrast to an aftershock sequence where a large mainshock is followed by a decaying sequence of (mostly) smaller earthquakes. Swarms can keep the earthquake rate elevated for a few days to many months. It is generally not possible to predict how long an ongoing swarm will last until it has run its course and it’s impossible to predict the size of the largest earthquake in the sequence.  

This area has a history of occasional small, scattered earthquakes, but none of particularly large magnitude. The largest earthquake within 50 miles (80 km) was in 1913 in Union County, when a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck about 90 km northwest of the recent earthquakes. That quake caused damage to brick and stone buildings, destroyed chimneys, and displaced furniture in homes. The most damaging earthquake in South Carolina history was the magnitude 7.0 1886 Charleston earthquake, located about 87 miles (140 km) to the southeast of this current swarm. 

During an earthquake swarm, the rate of earthquakes is increased, and the probability of larger earthquakes goes up accordingly. This swarm has produced a fairly constant trickle of earthquakes since December 2021, with 0 to 15 earthquakes larger than M2.0 occurring each month. Many smaller earthquakes – some of them still large enough to be felt – have also been recorded in the area. The rate of small earthquakes allows us to estimate the probability of larger earthquakes.   

The USGS provides scenarios that are based on the assumption that the rate of smaller earthquakes remains roughly the same over the next month. 

The following three scenarios describe possibilities of what could happen over a one-month timeframe (as of August 22, 2022).

Only one of these scenarios will occur within a particular month.

1. Scenario One (Most likely, about 95% chance):  Earthquakes continue but with none larger than magnitude 4 within the next month. 

• The most likely scenario is that the swarm continues as it has over the past months, confined to the region already affected by the swarm. The rate of earthquakes in the swarm is likely to remain the same, if not decrease slightly, over the next 30 days. Smaller magnitude earthquakes will likely be felt by people close to the epicenters. The swarm could also stop completely during this time.

2. Scenario Two (Less likely, about 5% chance): A larger earthquake (magnitude 4 - 5)

• A less likely scenario would be a somewhat larger earthquake in the magnitude 4 range. Such an earthquake would be felt over a larger area but would not cause significant damage. An earthquake of this size would be followed by aftershocks that would temporarily increase the number of smaller earthquakes per day. 

  3. Scenario Three (Least likely, less than 1% chance): A much larger earthquake (magnitude 5 or higher)

• A much less likely scenario, compared with the previous two scenarios, is that the ongoing swarm could trigger an earthquake significantly larger than the M3.6 that occurred on June 29. While this is a very small probability, such an earthquake could have significant impacts on communities nearby and would be followed by aftershocks that would increase the number of smaller earthquakes per day.

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What people can do about earthquakes 

Earthquakes can be unsettling, no matter the magnitude. The U.S. Geological Survey advises everyone to be aware of the possibility of future earthquakes, especially when in or around vulnerable structures such as unreinforced masonry buildings. This swarm may lead to larger and potentially damaging earthquakes in the future, so remember to: “Drop, Cover, and Hold on” if you feel shaking. When there are more earthquakes, the chance of a large earthquake is greater, which means that the chance of damage is greater. Please refer to preparedness information provided by your local and state emergency management offices.

About our earthquake advisories 

No one can predict the exact time or place of any earthquake, including aftershocks or events in swarms. Our earthquake forecasts give us an understanding of the chances of having more earthquakes within a given time period in the affected area. We calculate this earthquake forecast using a statistical analysis based on past earthquakes.

One uncertain aspect of this swarm is how long the elevated earthquake activity will last.  The chance of larger earthquakes will remain elevated as long as the swarm continues.  We will update this advisory as swarm activity increases or decreases, or if larger earthquakes occur. We are carefully monitoring activity throughout the region and will continue to provide information to help people stay safe and care for themselves and each other.

The USGS and its partners in the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) are monitoring the earthquake sequence in South Carolina. USGS ANSS partners in the region are the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) at the University of Memphis and the University of South Carolina.  A summary of the main features of the sequence is also included on the USGS event pages for the larger earthquakes in the sequence and at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

• https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se60401376/executive 
• https://www.dnr.sc.gov/geology/pdfs/EarthquakeReport-ElginArea2022.pdf 

Updated advisories will be released on the USGS Earthquake Hazard Program website.  

For media inquiries, please contact Elizabeth Goldbaum, egoldbaum@usgs.gov.

For More Information  

• What is the difference between aftershocks and swarms?  

• Earthquake preparedness: (South Carolina, USGS)