Recent earthquakes near Anchorage
Anchorage sits above the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate dives beneath North America, making south-central Alaska one of the most seismically active regions in the United States. The 1964 Great Alaska earthquake (M9.2), centred nearby, is the largest ever recorded in North America. A 2018 earthquake (M7.1) struck directly beneath the city. In the past 24 hours, Anchorage has recorded 3 earthquakes, the largest an M3.9 (62 km S of Cantwell, Alaska).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3.9 | Sep 12, 06:38 UTC | 77 km | 62 km S of Cantwell, Alaska |
| M2.9 | Sep 12, 05:08 UTC | 131 km | 47 km E of Pedro Bay, Alaska |
| M2.7 | Sep 12, 00:28 UTC | 24 km | 22 km SSW of Sunrise, Alaska |
| M4.0 | Sep 11, 07:10 UTC | 27 km | 41 km NNW of Glacier View, Alaska |
| M2.9 | Sep 11, 02:56 UTC | 61 km | 56 km SW of Nanwalek, Alaska |
| M2.6 | Sep 10, 21:25 UTC | 127 km | 69 km ESE of Denali National Park, Alaska |
| M4.2 | Sep 10, 05:18 UTC | 16 km | 66 km WNW of Lake Louise, Alaska |
| M3.6 | Sep 10, 02:22 UTC | 5 km | 16 km ESE of Denali National Park, Alaska |
| M2.8 | Sep 9, 22:01 UTC | 68 km | 7 km SW of Cohoe, Alaska |
| M2.9 | Sep 9, 18:35 UTC | 50 km | 25 km ENE of Beluga, Alaska |
| M2.8 | Sep 9, 10:17 UTC | 39 km | 16 km SSE of Kenny Lake, Alaska |
| M2.6 | Sep 9, 07:22 UTC | 78 km | 14 km WSW of Tyonek, Alaska |
| M2.7 | Sep 8, 17:56 UTC | 82 km | 67 km SSE of Cantwell, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Sep 8, 04:18 UTC | 78 km | 16 km W of Salamatof, Alaska |
| M2.6 | Sep 7, 20:12 UTC | 63 km | 32 km NNW of Willow, Alaska |
| M3.5 | Sep 7, 18:01 UTC | 82 km | 44 km SSW of Cantwell, Alaska |
| M2.8 | Sep 7, 07:07 UTC | 122 km | 61 km N of Petersville, Alaska |
| M2.8 | Sep 7, 00:19 UTC | 20 km | 46 km N of Valdez, Alaska |
| M2.6 | Sep 6, 22:02 UTC | 20 km | 48 km SSE of Nelchina, Alaska |
| M2.7 | Sep 6, 10:50 UTC | 37 km | 2 km SSW of Chenega, Alaska |
| M2.9 | Sep 5, 23:31 UTC | 39 km | 3 km N of Anchorage, Alaska |
| M2.6 | Sep 5, 10:22 UTC | 1 km | 65 km ESE of Cantwell, Alaska |
Notable recent activity
An M4.2 earthquake struck 66 km WNW of Lake Louise, Alaska at 05:18 UTC on Sep 10 at a depth of 16 km.
An M4.0 earthquake struck 41 km NNW of Glacier View, Alaska at 07:10 UTC on Sep 11 at a depth of 27 km.
An M3.9 earthquake struck 62 km S of Cantwell, Alaska at 06:38 UTC on Sep 12 at a depth of 77 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Anchorage get earthquakes?
Anchorage sits above the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath North America. This produces frequent earthquakes, including deep intraslab events beneath the city and great megathrust ruptures offshore.
What was the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
The March 27, 1964 Great Alaska earthquake, magnitude 9.2, is the largest recorded in North American history and the second-largest ever measured. Centred east of Anchorage, it caused ground failure, a major tsunami, and reshaped the region's coastline.
Did the 2018 earthquake damage Anchorage?
The November 30, 2018 earthquake, magnitude 7.1, struck about 40 km deep beneath Anchorage. It damaged roads and buildings and disrupted the city, but strong building codes and its depth kept casualties low.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.