Small Earthquake Hits Yellowstone

A small earthquake of magnitude 3.5 was recorded early Wednesday morning in the northwestern part of Yellowstone National Park, the latest of 40 small earthquakes that began Friday.

The University of Utah seismograph station recorded the earthquake at 5:48 a.m., said Sue Nava, seismograph network manager at the station.

The epicenter was four miles west and southwest of Norris Junction, in the northwest corner of the park in Wyoming.

Nava said the 40 earthquakes are being called a “swarm,” which is a cluster of nearby earthquakes not associated with any clear larger earthquake. Such swarms are common in that part of the park, she said.

Wednesday’s earthquake was one of the larger of the 40, she said.

She said there were no reports that people felt the earthquake. “The park is pretty empty this time of year,” she said.