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 no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2.9 | Oct 25, 07:46 UTC | 80 km | 35 km WNW of Kalifornsky, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Oct 25, 07:08 UTC | 0 km | 38 km SSW of Dry Creek, Alaska |
| M3.3 | Oct 24, 22:35 UTC | 76 km | 52 km SSW of Cantwell, Alaska |
| M2.8 | Oct 24, 05:03 UTC | 123 km | 71 km ESE of Denali National Park, Alaska |
| M2.8 | Oct 23, 22:29 UTC | 75 km | 14 km NNW of Beluga, Alaska |
| M3.1 | Oct 23, 19:10 UTC | 93 km | 48 km WNW of Nanwalek, Alaska |
| M2.7 | Oct 23, 07:14 UTC | 123 km | 66 km WNW of Happy Valley, Alaska |
| M2.9 | Oct 22, 10:42 UTC | 13 km | 64 km ENE of Lake Minchumina, Alaska |
| M2.9 | Oct 22, 07:00 UTC | 17 km | 51 km N of Sutton-Alpine, Alaska |
| M2.7 | Oct 22, 04:39 UTC | 88 km | 17 km W of Happy Valley, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Oct 21, 20:30 UTC | 115 km | 71 km N of Petersville, Alaska |
| M2.9 | Oct 21, 11:28 UTC | 97 km | 37 km WNW of Ninilchik, Alaska |
| M2.8 | Oct 21, 03:21 UTC | 65 km | 28 km WNW of Nanwalek, Alaska |
| M2.7 | Oct 20, 22:49 UTC | 80 km | 27 km W of Salamatof, Alaska |
Notable recent activity
An M3.3 earthquake struck 52 km SSW of Cantwell, Alaska at 22:35 UTC on Oct 24 at a depth of 76 km.
An M3.1 earthquake struck 48 km WNW of Nanwalek, Alaska at 19:10 UTC on Oct 23 at a depth of 93 km.
An M2.9 earthquake struck 51 km N of Sutton-Alpine, Alaska at 07:00 UTC on Oct 22 at a depth of 17 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.