<p>Short answer: Yes, but the odds are small.</p>

<p>The USGS page that you linked to also links to a <a href="https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60363602/oaf/commentary" rel="noreferrer">forecast</a>: "According to our forecast, over the next 1 Week there is a 1 % chance of one or more aftershocks that are larger than magnitude 5.7." </p>

<p>USGS also notes:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>No one can predict the exact time or place of any earthquake,
  including aftershocks. Our earthquake forecasts give us an
  understanding of the chances of having more earthquakes within a given
  time period in the affected area. We calculate this earthquake
  forecast using a statistical analysis based on past earthquakes.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-19T14:46:31.573Z
2020-03-19T14:46:31.573Z
jeffronicus
<p>Trying to verify the validity of a rumor. </p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60363602/executive" rel="noreferrer">https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60363602/executive</a></li>
</ul>

<earthquakes>
Could the 5.7 earthquake in Utah be a precursor to a larger one?
Bryan
# Could the 5.7 earthquake in Utah be a precursor to a larger one?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-03-18)

Trying to verify the validity of a rumor.

* <https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60363602/executive>

**Tags:** earthquakes


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-03-19. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Short answer: Yes, but the odds are small.

The USGS page that you linked to also links to a [forecast](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60363602/oaf/commentary): "According to our forecast, over the next 1 Week there is a 1 % chance of one or more aftershocks that are larger than magnitude 5.7."

USGS also notes:

> No one can predict the exact time or place of any earthquake,
> including aftershocks. Our earthquake forecasts give us an
> understanding of the chances of having more earthquakes within a given
> time period in the affected area. We calculate this earthquake
> forecast using a statistical analysis based on past earthquakes.


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