SALTON SEA (CBSLA) — The desert near the Salton Sea continue to tremble as a swarm of small earthquakes that started Wednesday continued into Thursday.
The swarm slowed down Thursday, but at least four earthquakes of magnitude 3 or larger were recorded in the first seven hours of the day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The swarm is taking place in the Brawley seismic zone.
READ MORE: El Capitan State Beach In Santa Barbara County To Close For At Least A Year On Sept. 1The area has seen swarms in the past in which they remain active for as many as 20 days, but the average duration is about a week, the USGS said. The current swarm is happening 25 miles to the south of the swarm that happened near Bombay Beach in August.
READ MORE: 'You Just Took Off': Family Of 74-Year-Old John Draper Urges Driver To Surrender After Fatal Hit-And-Run CrashThe USGS says there is a remote chance, about 1 in 300, that an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher could follow the swarm within the next seven days. There is a 10% chance that the swarm could be followed by a larger earthquake, up to magnitude 6.9, according to the USGS.
MORE NEWS: Catalina Island Company Announces Zip Line Wedding PackageBut the most likely scenario is that the rate of earthquakes will decrease over the next seven days. But even with a 90% chance of this scenario, the swarm could include more moderately sized earthquakes between 4.5 and 5.4 magnitude, the USGS said.