While earthquakes are relatively uncommon in the Northeast, the events highlight the region's ongoing seismic activity.

A magnitude 2.7 earthquake rattled parts of New York and New Jersey around midday on Aug. 5, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremor struck just over a mile southwest of Hillsdale, New Jersey, at about 12:11 p.m. ET, according to USGS. Hillsdale is about 20 miles northwest of Manhattan.

A second small earthquake within three days rattled the New York metropolitan area on Tuesday. The 2.7 magnitude earthquake struck a little after noon near suburban Hillsdale, New Jersey, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of the Bronx in New York City,