A light, 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck in Washington on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The temblor happened at 2:05 p.m. Pacific time about 4 miles northwest of Wauna, Wash., or about 15 miles southwest of Seattle, data from the agency shows.
While individual earthquakes can’t be predicted, geologists can calculate the chances that more earthquakes will follow an initial quake using statistical models of past events. For this earthquake, it is unlikely — about a 3 percent chance — that a larger quake will strike the area in the next day, according to the U.S.G.S. Here is the forecast for aftershocks of other sizes:Aftershocks forecast
The rate of aftershocks typically decreases over time, and forecasts are available for the next week, month and year.
Aftershocks detected
Subsequent quakes have been reported in the same area. Such temblors are typically aftershocks caused by minor adjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the initial earthquake.
Quakes and aftershocks within 100 miles
Aftershocks can occur days, weeks or even years after the first earthquake. These events can be of equal or larger magnitude to the initial earthquake, and they can continue to affect already damaged locations.
