Aftershock follows rare M4.8 New Jersey quake that was felt in Canada

A strong magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck northern New Jersey on Friday morning, temporarily halting air traffic in the region as buildings rattled from Maryland to New Brunswick.

The quake struck near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, just after 10:20 a.m. ET on Friday, with a noticeable M4.0 aftershock rattling the same area several hours later around 5:59 p.m. ET.

No damage was reported by Friday afternoon, but shaking was felt in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and across the eastern U.S. — areas that rarely experience notable seismic activity like this.

There were even tremors reported in parts of Canada, including Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

“Thankfully there have been no reports of injuries or damage, but additional aftershocks are still possible. Please be prepared and take steps to stay safe,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Friday afternoon.

Following the earthquake, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop at nine major airports from Baltimore to New York City while crews assessed air traffic control facilities. Flights resumed about an hour later, with residual delays lingering into the afternoon.