Magnitude 2.4 earthquake strikes near Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA

The United States Geological Survey reported a magnitude 2.4 quake in the United States near Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey, 35 minutes ago. The earthquake hit early afternoon on Friday, January 30th, 2026, at 3:42 pm local time at a very shallow depth of 5.5 miles. Magnitude and other quake parameters can still change in the coming hours as the agency continues to process seismic data.
A second report was later issued by The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), which listed it as a magnitude 2.4 earthquake as well. A third agency, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), reported the same quake at magnitude 2.4.
Towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Whitehouse Station (pop. 2,100) located 4 miles from the epicenter. In Bridgewater (pop. 44,500, 6 miles away), Basking Ridge (pop. 21,400, 10 miles away), Hillsborough (pop. 38,300, 14 miles away), Plainfield (pop. 51,200, 17 miles away), New Brunswick (pop. 57,000, 19 miles away), Edison (pop. 102,500, 20 miles away), Trenton (pop. 89,600, 31 miles away), and Staten Island (pop. 468,700, 32 miles away), the quake was probably not felt.

Earthquake data:
Date & time: Jan 30, 2026 03:42 pm (GMT -5) local time (30 Jan 2026 20:42 GMT)
Magnitude: 2.4
Depth: 8.89 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 40.67°N / 74.73°W (Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States)
Primary data source: USGS
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquake/news/293453/Magnitude-24-earthquake-strikes-near-Bridgewater-Somerset-County-New-Jersey-USA.html