The U.S. Geological Survey reports a small earthquake centered in Somerset County early Friday morning.


A map shows the quake, which measured 2.7 on the Richter scale, to be centered north of Bernardsville along Mendham Road. The quake took place at 3:40 a.m. according to Bernardsville police officer Mike Deradiso, who says there have been no reports of injuries or property damage.

Meteorologist Dan Zarrow says the quake occurred along the Ramapo Fault which he says is "the cause of the vast majority New Jersey earthquakes in recorded history."

According to the USGS website there were nearly 100 responses with the most coming from Bernardsville, Randolph and Morristown. "On Iron Mountain in Mine Hill we heard what we thought was thunder overhead and house/windows shook," wrote Chris McDonough on the New Jersey 101.5 Facebook page. We were both awake at that time. Amazing even though small quake." Other comments indicate the earthquake was felt in Mountain Lakes, Chester, Peapack, Port Morris and Bedminster.



USGS geophysicist Zachary Reeves says such small earthquakes usually don't cause damage, but people will usually feel a little bit of shaking on higher floors.

Jeffrey Paul of the Morris County Office of Emergency Management told ABC 7 that residents should check their homes for cracks even though the earthquake was minor.

See more on Dan Zarrow's Facebook page:

EARTHQUAKE! The USGS has confirmed a magnitude 2.5 earthquake at 3:41am centered near Bernardsville, Somerset County. ...

Posted by Meteorologist Dan Zarrow on Friday, August 14, 2015

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