Friday night quake centered in Whitefish measures 4.5 magnitude

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake rattled homes and businesses in Northwest Montana around midnight on Friday.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake hit just two miles east of downtown Whitefish, and was based about 5.5 miles beneath the earth's surface. However, an earthquake of this size is unlikely to cause any serious damage based on USGS standards.

Early reports came in from several points in the Flathead Valley, indicating the quake was felt in Kila, Martin City and elsewhere. The Daily Inter Lake's walls in Kalispell shook and chairs were rolling slightly.

Seismographs available online showed that the temblor was also felt in Missoula and as far away as Yellowstone.

A 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Marion area west of Kalispell on Tuesday afternoon.

More than four dozen people posted comments on the Inter Lake's Facebook page about the earthquake in the first hour after it hit at 11:59 p.m. Lots of people were wakened by the quake.

One reader noted, "That was a good shake," which was about as accurate an account as we read anywhere.

Phillip Bruinsma, who said he lives almost directly over the epicenter of the quake in Whitefish, posted pictures on the Inter Lake's Facebook page of two cracked interior walls in his house. 

"Pictures on the walls are moved, two fell off the wall, plates rattled, drawers opened slightly, a carton of eggs fell out of the fridge, and a couple things fell over," wrote Bruinsma. "It didn't last long, 15-20 seconds of shaking. The sound was intense, like thunder!"