Earthquake map courtesy of USGS.gov
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — An earthquake measuring 4.5 in magnitude shook the ground south of Grand Junction, near the Utah – Colorado state line, and was felt as far away as Moab and Monticello in Utah.
The United States Geological Survey pinpoints the earthquake’s epicenter as about 57 kilometers north of Dove Creek, Colorado, which is southeast of Moab. According to the University of Utah, that puts the epicenter in southwestern Colorado’s Slick Rock Canyon, about 2.6 miles away from the town of Bedrock.
Initially, the quake was reported as a 5.3 magnitude before it was downgraded.
At least one 2.0 aftershock was recorded shortly after the initial shaker.
The USGS says there is about a 6 percent chance of aftershocks larger than 4.5 after this earthquake in the next week. More likely would be smaller aftershocks, but the agency forecasts anywhere from zero to 20 magnitude 3.0 and higher aftershocks.
There are no immediate reports of damage, but the story will be updated.