Do small earthquakes lead to a big one?
Do small earthquakes lead to a big one? “They aren't necessarily a sign that something bigger is coming,” she said. “But there is a small chance, about a five percent chance, that any earthquake in Utah will be followed by a larger event.” She said that happened on Tuesday when the 3.2 magnitude quake came after a smaller earthquake that registered at 2.9.
What are the signs of a big earthquake coming?
Ground tilting, caused by the buildup of stress in the rocks, may precede a large earthquake, but not always. Water levels in wells fluctuate as water moves into or out of fractures before an earthquake. This is also an uncertain predictor of large earthquakes.