Outlook: 1/20/22

So far, it seems like everything is finally settling down out there for now. January has been an active month. It may remain relatively quiet in the world within the week ahead with a couple of moderate to potentially significant EQs along the way - mid to upper magnitude 5 range although a mag. 6+ is not out of the question. So far, the next surge in significant global activity or next strong earthquake may be around the end of this month or early next month. Again, that can always change on a time. There have been multiple occasions where I made this type of post one morning and then issued a new global EQ watch the next day or two. Although these outlook forecast posts are not necessarily suggesting it is going to be an uneventful week out there in terms of seismic activity, these often are made in the mid or latter part of the month just after a rise in significant activity. However, it may end up remaining overall quiet in the world this weekend and even next week at this point. Again, that can still change. A rogue mag. 6+ somewhere in the world later today or this weekend cannot be ruled out. There is always a possibility for some intraplate seismic activity going on somewhere. The other night, a mag. 2.3 occurred East of McMinnville, TN, about 30 miles east of my area. There could be more going on on this side of the country within the coming days. I will be watching it all. Another tiny earthquake was recorded in South Carolina late yesterday. Some more small earthquakes were recorded in the Yellowstone area over the past 24 hours. There could also be some more seismic activity flaring up in other parts of the Western U.S. as well as Alaska any time or day now.