An earthquake registering a magnitude of 4.6 struck Western Montana at 9:46 a.m. Tuesday morning and the shaking was felt as far away as Boise, Idaho, and Salt Lake City, Utah, according to data from the United States Geological Survey.



The earthquake's epicenter was located nine miles northeast of Sheridan, MT. The USGS earthquake website received a total of 233 reports this morning from people who experienced the 4.6 quake, which is considered "a small to moderate event," by University of Utah seismologist Raoul Burlacu.

"Many people felt the event and I am not surprised that people in Idaho felt it," Burlacu said.

Of the 233 people who reported feeling the event to the USGS, 11 were from Idaho with six respondents from Salmon, three from Boise and one each from Victor and Elk City. There is anecdotal evidence that people felt the tremor here in the Wood River Valley as well.

Burlacu said there is no way to know if earthquake was a precursor to something bigger or if aftershocks would be felt.

"There is no way to answer yes or no," he said. "I would not be surprised to see aftershocks of this event that would be smaller."