Recent earthquakes near Seattle
Seattle faces three distinct earthquake sources: the offshore Cascadia subduction zone, deep earthquakes within the subducting slab beneath Puget Sound, and the shallow Seattle Fault running directly beneath the city. The 2001 Nisqually earthquake (M6.8) was a deep intraslab event. A Cascadia megathrust or a shallow Seattle Fault rupture pose the greatest potential impact. In the past 24 hours, Seattle 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2.5 | Oct 25, 14:15 UTC | 3 km | 41 km WSW of Winthrop, Washington |
| M3.0 | Oct 22, 14:25 UTC | 24 km | 3 km W of Columbia City, Oregon |
Notable recent activity
An M3.0 earthquake struck 3 km W of Columbia City, Oregon at 14:25 UTC on Oct 22 at a depth of 24 km.
An M2.5 earthquake struck 41 km WSW of Winthrop, Washington at 14:15 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 3 km.
Frequently asked questions
Is Seattle at risk of a major earthquake?
Yes. Seattle faces the offshore Cascadia subduction zone, deep earthquakes beneath Puget Sound, and the shallow Seattle Fault under the city. Each poses a distinct hazard, and together they make the region's earthquake risk substantial.
What was the Nisqually earthquake?
The February 28, 2001 Nisqually earthquake, magnitude 6.8, occurred about 50 km deep within the subducting slab beneath the Puget Sound region. Its depth limited damage, but it still caused injuries and hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
What is the Seattle Fault?
The Seattle Fault is a shallow east-west thrust fault running directly beneath the city. A large earthquake on it, similar to one about 1,100 years ago, would produce very strong local shaking and is a major focus of the region's preparedness.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.