Overview:
Just after midnight on August 3, 2025, a 3.0 magnitude earthquake struck Northern New Jersey, with tremors felt across the New York City metropolitan area. A Presence News reader named Christina in Ridgewood was among the first to report the incident to our newsroom. Her account has since been confirmed by multiple outlets, including La Voce di New York, The Guardian, and Patch. This article captures the timeline of the quake, local reactions, and what seismologists are saying.
Ridgewood, NJ
At approximately 12:03 AM on August 3, 2025, a 3.0 magnitude earthquake struck just west of Jersey City. It shook parts of northern New Jersey and New York City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Presence News was alerted to the event by a local reader, Christina. She experienced light tremors from her home in Ridgewood, NJ.
“It felt like a heavy truck passed by, but everything in the house shook for a few seconds,” Christina told Presence News in the early hours of the morning.
Though the quake was relatively minor, it marks another rare seismic event in a region not commonly associated with earthquakes. It drew quick reactions from local residents, emergency services, and scientists.
Confirmed Reports and Media Coverage
Following Christina’s tip, Presence News verified the quake through national and regional outlets:
- According to La Voce di New York, the tremor originated near Union City in Hudson County. It was felt in all five NYC boroughs, particularly in upper Manhattan and the Bronx.
- The Guardian reports that while no injuries or damages are held in active discussion groups, residents flooded social media and emergency hotlines. They reported shaking, especially in buildings with older infrastructure.
- Patch confirmed that Jersey City residents also experienced mild-to-moderate tremors, noting “rattling windows” and “creaking floors.”
The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of just 6.2 miles. This likely contributed to the noticeable surface vibrations, despite its relatively low magnitude.
Unusual But Not Unprecedented
Though New Jersey and New York are not typically under consideration to be earthquake zones, mild quakes are not unheard of. According to the USGS, the region is home to old fault lines. While dormant most of the time, they can occasionally produce light seismic activity.
The last notable quake in the region was a 2.4 magnitude quake that struck near Morris County in late 2022. Even that didn’t generate the level of reaction seen in this latest event.
“People forget that the eastern U.S. does have active faults—it’s just that they don’t move very often,” said Dr. Kevin Morales, a geophysicist with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, in an interview with The Guardian.
Local Reaction in Ridgewood
Following Christina’s message, several Ridgewood residents posted similar accounts on neighborhood forums and social media. Some initially believed it to be a large truck, while others thought it was thunder or construction noise.
“My dog started barking before I even felt anything,” one user posted on the Ridgewood Community Facebook group. “Then the shelves rattled, and I realized something was off.”
As of this writing, no structural damage or utility disruptions are reporting in Ridgewood or surrounding Bergen County towns.
Emergency Response and Recommendations
Local emergency management teams confirmed there was no significant damage and no need for evacuations. However, officials are reminding residents:
- To review emergency preparedness plans, even for low-probability events like earthquakes
- To report any cracks, gas smells, or structural shifts in homes or buildings
- To stay informed through local alerts and the USGS “Did You Feel It?” survey tool
Presence News: First to Report from the Ground
Presence News is proud to have been among the first outlets to receive a firsthand report, thanks to our reader Christina’s alert from Ridgewood. While larger media outlets confirmed the event hours later, it was the voice of a local resident that initiated our newsroom’s coverage. This demonstrates the importance of citizen journalism in rapidly evolving news moments.
Stay Informed
📌 For real-time alerts and quake data, visit: https://earthquake.usgs.gov
📰 More from our reporting at: www.presencenews.org
Editor’s Note
This article includes firsthand reporting from Presence News readers. It also features data and commentary sourced from La Voce di New York, The Guardian, Patch, and USGS seismic trackers. For more local updates, tips, and features, visit www.presencenews.org.
