Recent earthquakes in Oklahoma
Oklahoma experienced a dramatic surge in earthquakes in the 2010s, driven largely by the deep underground injection of wastewater from oil and gas operations. This induced seismicity made the state, once seismically quiet, one of the most active in the country for a period. The 2016 Pawnee earthquake (M5.8) is the largest recorded in Oklahoma. In the past 24 hours, Oklahoma 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.0 | Jul 23, 10:21 UTC | 6 km | 38 km SSE of Spearman, Texas |
Notable recent activity
A moderate M5.0 earthquake struck 38 km SSE of Spearman, Texas at 10:21 UTC on Jul 23 at a depth of 6 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Oklahoma have so many earthquakes?
Most of Oklahoma's recent earthquakes are induced — caused by injecting large volumes of wastewater from oil and gas production deep underground, which raises pressure on existing faults. Regulation of injection has since reduced the earthquake rate.
Are Oklahoma's earthquakes natural?
Oklahoma has some natural seismicity, but the sharp rise after about 2009 was overwhelmingly linked to wastewater disposal wells. As injection was curtailed, the number of felt earthquakes declined substantially.
What was the biggest earthquake in Oklahoma?
The September 3, 2016 Pawnee earthquake, magnitude 5.8, is the largest recorded in Oklahoma. It, along with the 2011 Prague earthquake (M5.7), was associated with wastewater injection and prompted tighter regulation.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.