“Talladega National Forest” by wayoutbhm is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Much of the state woke up Halloween morning to the surprise of seeing frost on the ground for the first time in months.

But for some people in Talladega, an even bigger surprise served as a wake up call.

While the earthquake was likely too small for most people in the area to feel it, the event still registered as a 2.3 magnitude on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scale at 4:48AM. No damage or injuries have been reported.

Keep reading to see more information about the earthquake + some quick history about earthquakes in our state.

Talladega earthquake

USGS pinpointed the earthquake to an empty lot near the intersection of McMillan Street East and Johnson Street between downtown Talladega and the Talladega National Forest.

According to the USGS, the earthquake had a depth of 9.6 kilometers, or 5.96 miles.

This was the southern-most recorded earthquake in Alabama since November 2022 (Hollins). 11 of the 16 earthquakes recorded in Alabama since 2020 have been north of Birmingham.

It was the first recorded quake in Alabama in nearly a year with the last coming in Sipsey on Nov. 18, 2024.

A total of four earthquakes were recorded in Alabama in 2024.

Earthquakes in Alabama

The strongest earthquake in Alabama’s history came in 1916 when a 5.1 magnitude quake was registered in Vandiver, according to USGS.

However, in more recent history, Fort Payne saw a significant earthquake when a 4.9 magnitude quake caused damage in several areas.

The USGS says there are four zones of frequent earthquake activity that impact Alabama including:

New Madrid Seismic Zone
Southern Appalachian Seismic Zone
South Carolina Seismic Zone
Bahamas Fracture Seismic Zone

While we may not have many major earthquakes in Alabama, this is why there are usually a few small quakes recorded every year—especially in spots near the Appalachian Mountains.

“Most of the earthquakes we experience in Alabama are associated with the Southern Appalachian Seismic Zone (an extension of the East Tennessee Seismic Zone) that runs along the Appalachian Mountains from the northeastern corner into the central part of the state and the Bahamas Fracture Seismic Zone in southern Alabama.”
USGS

Want updates like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter today.