4.0

M4.0 Earthquake 60 km W of Happy Valley, AlaskaDecember 31, 2025

2025-12-31 20:36:19 UTC (2025-12-31) · approx. 10:36 AM UTC-10 local

MagnitudeM4.0(ml)
Time20:36 UTC10:36 AM UTC-10
Depth117.3 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates60.039°, -152.796°
Felt by3DYFI responses· max MMI 2.3
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS· Tsunami evaluation
Tsunami Warning Issued

On December 31, 2025 at 20:36 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 60 km W of Happy Valley, Alaska, at a depth of 117.3 km and coordinates 60.0390°, -152.7960°. The earthquake was reported felt by 3 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 2.3 (weak).

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 60.04°, -152.80°

ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity

Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.

USGS ShakeMap intensity contours for the M4.0 earthquake near 60 km W of Happy Valley, Alaska

Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 3 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M4.0 earthquake near 60 km W of Happy Valley, Alaska

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 ml
Depth
117.3 km
intermediate depth
Location
60.0390°N
-152.7960°E
Felt Reports
3
DYFI responses
Intensity (MMI)
2.3
weak
Community Intensity
2.2
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
ak2025ztthsw
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
247
Stations Used
215
Azimuthal Gap
66.0°
Min Station Distance
0.100°
RMS Residual
0.70 sec
Last Updated
2026-05-14 18:03:53 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Happy Valley, Alaska?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 60 km W of Happy Valley, Alaska on December 31, 2025 at 20:36 UTC had a depth of 117.3 km. It was felt by 3 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 2.3 (weak). For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

What should I do after an earthquake?

If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: ak2025ztthsw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, December 31, 2025). M4.0 Earthquake 60 km W of Happy Valley, AlaskaDecember 31, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ak2025ztthsw/