Residents of northern New York and neighboring Vermont got an unexpected late-night jolt on October 13, 2025, as a rare magnitude 2.6 earthquake struck near the small community of Chazy, just south of the Canadian border. The tremor, which occurred at 11:39 p.m. EDT, was shallow—measured at approximately 8.7 kilometers (about 5 miles) deep—and was centered roughly 4 kilometers northwest of Chazy, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake’s epicenter, located at 44.9257°N, 73.467°W, placed it about 40 miles south of Montreal and 34 miles from Burlington, Vermont. While earthquakes are not unheard of in the region, this event was notable for being felt across a surprisingly wide area, including towns such as Plattsburgh, Altona, Mooers, and even as far as Burlington, Vermont, and Alburgh, just across Lake Champlain.
Most residents described the shaking as brief—lasting only a few seconds—but certainly noticeable. According to the BBC and local NBC5 reports, people took to social media to share their experiences. Debbie King LaValley wrote, “Yes — it was a double bang!” while Karisa Orr of West Chazy said, “We felt it good! The whole house was shaking, and you could hear the earth rumbling — it was wild!” Others, like Autumn Marie Love in Cumberland Head, admitted, “Scared the crap outta me — my bed shook, and I heard it loud and clear!”
Despite the flurry of reactions, no damage or injuries were reported. Local emergency officials, quoted by the Daily Mail, advised homeowners to inspect their foundations and outbuildings for cracks, just in case. Clinton County Emergency Services echoed this advice, urging residents to review home emergency kits as the region transitions into cooler fall weather. Those traveling on I-87 or across the Champlain bridges were also cautioned about possible loose debris following the ground movement.
The USGS National Earthquake Information Center confirmed that while tremors of this size are rare, they are not unprecedented in the North Country and Adirondack region. The area sits atop ancient fault lines, including the Champlain Thrust Fault Zone, which extends from southern Quebec through western Vermont and into eastern New York. This east-dipping thrust fault was primarily active during the Ordovician period, some 450 million years ago, and has been reactivated during subsequent tectonic events. While dormant for long stretches, these old faults can still produce occasional, if minor, earthquakes.
Experts from Michigan Tech University explain that earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or less are usually not felt by people but can be detected by sensitive instruments. Those in the 2.5 to 5.4 range, like the Chazy quake, are often felt but typically cause only minor damage. In this case, the shaking intensity was rated as II (very weak) to III (weak) in affected towns such as Chazy, Mooers, Rouses Point, North Hero, and Plattsburgh, based on USGS and VolcanoDiscovery data. In total, more than 100 people reported feeling the shaking to the USGS, while 34 specific reports of shaking were logged in the immediate area.
The seismic energy released by the quake was estimated at 5 x 108 joules (about 139 kilowatt hours), which is equivalent to 0.12 tons of TNT. While this sounds impressive, it’s a relatively small amount in earthquake terms. The weather at the epicenter was overcast, but otherwise calm—a reminder that seismic surprises can arrive even on quiet nights.
For many locals, the experience was more startling than dangerous. Some reported that their pets acted strangely before the quake, while others were simply awakened by the brief shaking or the sound of rattling windows. “Woke us up!” wrote Lisa Getty from Champlain. Theresa Starr Kempisty of Cumberland Head recalled, “I felt it — thought it was the dog at first!”
Historically, the Adirondack and North Country region has experienced several notable earthquakes, though much larger than this week’s event. According to the Daily Mail, the largest on record was a magnitude 5.8 quake in 1944, which caused about $20 million in damage in Massena, New York, and Cornwall, Ontario. More recently, a magnitude 5.0 quake near Plattsburgh in 2002 caused localized damage, and a 4.9 tremor in 1983 rattled the southern Adirondacks. Moderately damaging earthquakes occur every few decades, while smaller ones like Monday’s are felt every three to four years.
The geology of the region is complex, with ancient faults that only occasionally release built-up stress. The Champlain Thrust Fault, in particular, is a significant geological feature that, while not considered dormant, is typically quiet. The recent quake serves as a reminder that even regions far from tectonic plate boundaries can experience seismic activity due to these deep-seated, ancient structures. As the Daily Mail noted, this was an intraplate earthquake—one that happens within a tectonic plate rather than at its edges—making it rarer but not impossible.
Despite the lack of damage, local officials took the opportunity to remind residents about basic earthquake preparedness, especially as the area heads into a period of cooler fall weather. Reviewing emergency kits, checking for structural cracks, and staying alert for aftershocks or related hazards were all part of the advice. Fortunately, no aftershocks were reported in the hours following the event.
As the sun rose over the Lake Champlain Valley the next morning, life quickly returned to normal. The quake, though minor, became a topic of conversation in cafes and on social media, a shared experience that briefly united communities on both sides of the border. For most, it was a quirky interruption—a reminder that beneath the tranquil landscape of upstate New York, ancient forces are still at work, even if only for a few seconds every few years.
For now, the ground is quiet again, but the story of the Chazy earthquake is likely to linger in local memory—at least until the next time the earth decides to rumble beneath the North Country’s feet.
