Updated 8/23 5:00 p.m.

An earthquake struck Virginia Tuesday afternoon, sending tremors across the East Coast, according to the US Geological Survey.

USGS downgraded the earthquake from a 5.9 to a 5.8 on the Richter Scale.

Earlier in the day, USGS geophysicist Don Blakeman said that a revision of magnitude was likely "Once we get more data in, more analysis, we'll probably revise it."

The epicenter of the earthquake was about four miles south/southwest of Louisa, VA, about 41 miles northwest of Richmond.

Tremors were felt as far away as Boston, according to the Boston Globe, and in Cleveland, during the first game of a double-header between the Cleveland Indians and the Seattle Mariners, according to the Associated Press.

With an earthquake of this magnitude, Blakeman said he would expect that there was some structural damage closer to the epicenter. 

Local Impact

• In Howard County, the tremors led Howard County Public Schools to close all buildings Tuesday evening and cancel all afternoon and evening activities, including sports practice.
• In Ellicott City, the Applied Research Lab sustained some structural damage, according to the County Executive's office, but no injuries were reported.
• Howard County Police have been getting mostly alarm calls, according to police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn. There have not been reports of any serious damage or injuries.

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8/23 2:24 p.m. 

At about 1:51 p.m. Tuesday an earthquake shook the ground in Howard County and around the Mid-Atlantic, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The epicenter of the 5.9 magnitude quake was near Charlottesville, VA.

Tremors were felt as far away as New Jersey, according to the USGS map. 

More information is on the way.

If you felt it, let us know where you are and what you felt. You can also let the USGS know what you felt and where on the "Did You Feel It" website.