Recent earthquakes in Idaho
Idaho's earthquakes concentrate in the central mountains and along the Intermountain Seismic Belt, where Basin and Range extension meets the Rocky Mountains. The 1983 Borah Peak earthquake (M6.9), the largest in Idaho's history, raised the Lost River Range and produced a prominent fault scarp. A 2020 earthquake struck near Stanley. In the past 24 hours, Idaho has recorded 1 earthquake, the largest an M3.2 (23 km NW of Stanley, Idaho).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3.2 | Sep 12, 01:52 UTC | 10 km | 23 km NW of Stanley, Idaho |
| M2.8 | Sep 8, 07:21 UTC | 11 km | 3 km ESE of Hebgen Lake Estates, Montana |
| M2.7 | Sep 7, 07:43 UTC | 7 km | 57 km NE of Kelly, Wyoming |
| M3.4 | Sep 7, 04:25 UTC | 7 km | 57 km NE of Kelly, Wyoming |
| M3.3 | Sep 6, 15:35 UTC | 10 km | 23 km NW of Stanley, Idaho |
| M2.9 | Sep 5, 10:03 UTC | 10 km | 6 km WNW of Stanley, Idaho |
Notable recent activity
An M3.4 earthquake struck 57 km NE of Kelly, Wyoming at 04:25 UTC on Sep 7 at a depth of 7 km.
An M3.3 earthquake struck 23 km NW of Stanley, Idaho at 15:35 UTC on Sep 6 at a depth of 10 km.
An M3.2 earthquake struck 23 km NW of Stanley, Idaho at 01:52 UTC on Sep 12 at a depth of 10 km.
Frequently asked questions
Does Idaho get earthquakes?
Yes. Central Idaho lies within the Intermountain Seismic Belt and the eastern edge of the Basin and Range, producing frequent small earthquakes and occasional large ones. The mountainous center of the state is far more active than the plains.
What was the Borah Peak earthquake?
The October 28, 1983 Borah Peak earthquake, magnitude 6.9, is the largest recorded in Idaho. It ruptured the Lost River Fault, raised the mountain range, and dropped the valley floor, leaving a fault scarp still visible today.
Has Idaho had recent earthquakes?
Yes. On March 31, 2020, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near Stanley in central Idaho, the state's largest in decades. It caused landslides in remote terrain but little damage to communities.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.