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Magnitude 5.0 earthquake strikes West Texas

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feeds.texastribune.org – By Pavan Acharya – 2025-02-15 13:58:00

Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in state

Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in state” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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A 5.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded in West Texas late Friday evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and could be felt by residents more than 150 miles away in El Paso.

The earthquake struck near the border of Culberson and Reeves counties at 11:23 p.m. CST with an epicenter about 33 miles northwest of Toyah, Texas. Three smaller aftershocks also occurred within minutes of the first quake. There have been no immediate reported deaths or injuries associated with the quakes. And economic losses are expected to be minimal.

According to the geological survey, shaking in neighboring cities ranged from “weak” to “light” with about 950,000 being exposed to the quake. The earthquake was also felt by Texans as far west as El Paso and in some cities in eastern New Mexico.

About 20 minutes after the initial earthquake, the National Weather Service El Paso posted to X, asking residents if they had felt the earthquake and a subsequent aftershock.

Friday’s earthquake is tied for the sixth strongest in Texas history, according to the website Earthquake Track. Texas has also experienced two magnitude 5.1 earthquakes in the past six months, both tying for the fifth strongest in state history.

The number and strength of earthquakes in West Texas has grown in recent years. In November 2023, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck near the borders of Reeves and Culberson counties, tied for fourth strongest in Texas history.

Scientists have attributed higher earthquake activity in the Permian Basin in West Texas to an increase in hydraulic fracturing — also known as fracking — in the area, which is the most productive oil and gas region in the state. When water is injected into the ground for fracking, fluid pressures increase within faults, scientists say, which can lead to more seismic activity in oil fields.

Since 2000, a dramatic increase in seismic activity in the Permian Basin has likely been triggered by increased wastewater disposal due to fracking, a 2021 study by USGS and University of Texas scientists found.

There are more than 20 deep injection wells in the Culberson County and Reeves County area, according to data from the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates the state’s oil and gas industry. That figure is slightly lower than in 2022.

The decrease comes as the commission has made efforts to reduce seismic activity in West Texas. After the largest Texas earthquake in three decades struck near the border of Reeves and Culberson counties in November that year, commission staff also expanded the area where water injections could be restricted and asked companies to reduce how much water they inject underground in the area.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/15/texas-west-earthquake-magnitude/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

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News from the South - Texas News Feed

Austin becoming FEMA-approved emergency alert authority, planning 1st test alert

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www.kxan.com – Abigail Jones – 2025-09-13 12:16:00

SUMMARY: On Monday, Sept. 29, Austin will conduct a test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), becoming a FEMA-approved alerting authority able to send emergency alerts via Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to cell phones and Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages to TV and radio. This coordinated test at 3 p.m. will cover the city across its three counties—Travis, Hays, and Williamson. The alerts will clearly indicate a test and require no action. IPAWS allows authenticated, geotargeted emergency notifications without subscription, enhancing public safety communication. More details are available at ReadyCentralTexas.org and Ready.gov/alerts.

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La Niña now expected to last all winter

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www.kxan.com – Nick Bannin – 2025-09-13 07:00:00

SUMMARY: For the first time this year, La Niña is now forecast to last throughout the entire winter, with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center giving it a 54% chance for December-February. Previously, ENSO Neutral was favored for winter. La Niña occurs when sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific are 0.5ºC below average, typically pushing the Pacific Jet Stream north, causing drier, warmer conditions in the southern U.S. and wetter areas in the Pacific Northwest. Last winter, a weak La Niña brought a record warm December but cooler January-February, below-average rainfall, snow in Austin, and more freezes than normal. Another mild La Niña winter is expected for Central Texas.

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Texas high school football scores for Friday, Sept. 12

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www.kxan.com – Billy Gates – 2025-09-12 22:59:00

SUMMARY: Lake Travis dominated Midland Legacy 59-13 in a spirited farewell to the old Cavalier Stadium before renovations force home games to move to Dripping Springs High School. Across Central Texas, notable district wins included Anderson over College Station (37-14), Bowie against Glenn (38-14), and Dripping Springs edging Harker Heights (31-26). High-scoring games saw McNeil top Westwood 70-45, and Hutto defeat Cedar Ridge 63-49. Close contests included Vista Ridge’s 30-29 win over Round Rock and Austin LBJ’s 34-33 overtime victory against Wimberley. The article also features an extensive list of scores from other Texas high school football games.

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