Why Did Missouri’s New Madrid Fault Suddenly Go Quiet in March?

This should probably be considered good news, but I'm wary of it. Many are wondering why the New Madrid Fault in southern Missouri seemed to go quiet in March with less than half the normal number of quakes.

In looking at a summary of New Madrid quakes that were confirmed by the USGS in March, you'll see something interesting. In a normal month, you'll see an average of a quake per day meaning around 30-ish over a 30-day period. March this year, there were only 14 confirmed quakes associated with the New Madrid Fault.

On the surface, less activity on the New Madrid Fault looks like good news, but it may not be

The good news about small New Madrid quakes is they release pressure on the plate in that region. Lack of activity COULD mean a buildup of pressure which COULD lead to a major event. What the USGS fears is a sudden slip or break in any given fault area including the New Madrid. They say "the tectonic plates are always slowly moving, but they get stuck at their edges due to friction." Could New Madrid Fault activity being half of its normal level during March mean this could be one of those "stuck" moments? There is simply no way to know for sure.

All the more reason to always be quake prepared if you live within striking distance of the New Madrid Fault. A major quake would likely release massive energy not just in St. Louis and Memphis, but up the Mississippi River areas.

Let's hope that life-changing quake we've all been dreading is still far off in the future and not tomorrow - or today.