SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is reporting an early-morning earthquake centered near South Lake Tahoe on Friday, October 2. Many residents took to social media just after 3 a.m., reporting that they were jolted awake and felt (and heard) the earthquake.
USGS reports the 3.71 earthquake occurred at Stanford Camp on the west side of Fallen Leaf Lake, 10 miles from South Lake Tahoe and was ws 7 km deep. The seismological lab at the University of Nevada, Reno is reporting the quake was 3.60.
Lake Tahoe has three main faults running in the basin: the Incline Village Fault, the Stateline Fault, and West Tahoe Fault, which is the largest of the system. This north-trending normal fault runs along the west shore (from near Emerald Bay past Dollar Point). It spans over 50 kilometers, is capable of generating up to a magnitude 7.3 earthquake, and shifts vertically during major events.
Lake Tahoe fault graphic from SFGate:
