Overview
- A lightning strike over western Mexico City on Wednesday, Sept. 30 produced a loud boom and a surface acoustic/shock wave that was recorded by local seismographs and felt by residents.
- SkyAlert's experimental local-alert function issued automated notices of a possible microsismo in Mixcoac without calculating time or intensity and acknowledged the system is subject to errors.
- Seismology platforms SASSLA and Sismo Alerta Mexicana clarified minutes after the event that the signals were atmospheric (the lightning impact and thunder), not tectonic ground movement.
- The Servicio Sismológico Nacional reported several small, unrelated quakes on Oct. 1 in Chiapas, Guerrero and Chihuahua with no damage or tsunami warnings, while civil protection kept weather alerts active for parts of CDMX.
- Experts say sensitive seismographs can record strong surface pressure waves from lightning or explosions, so developers must refine algorithms and authorities should guide the public to verify alerts with official sources.