3.8

M3.8 Earthquake 27 km SW of Petersville, AlaskaMay 14, 2026

2026-05-14 15:50:29 UTC (2026-05-14) · approx. 5:50 AM UTC-10 local

MagnitudeM3.8(ml)
Time15:50 UTC5:50 AM UTC-10
Depth82.4 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates62.292°, -151.065°
Felt by2DYFI responses· max MMI 2.5
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 14, 2026 at 15:50 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 27 km SW of Petersville, Alaska, at a depth of 82.4 km and coordinates 62.2920°, -151.0650°. The earthquake was reported felt by 2 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 2.5 (weak).

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 7.6 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 252 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 62.29°, -151.06°

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 M3.8 earthquake near 27 km SW of Petersville, Alaska

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

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 2 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 M3.8 earthquake near 27 km SW of Petersville, Alaska

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

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.8 ml
Depth
82.4 km
intermediate depth
Location
62.2920°N
-151.0650°E
Felt Reports
2
DYFI responses
Intensity (MMI)
2.5
weak
Community Intensity
2.7
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
aka2026jmwpsb
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
223
Stations Used
156
Azimuthal Gap
21.0°
Min Station Distance
0.300°
RMS Residual
0.90 sec
Last Updated
2026-06-08 14:29:55 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Petersville, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 27 km SW of Petersville, Alaska on May 14, 2026 at 15:50 UTC had a depth of 82.4 km. It was felt by 2 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 2.5 (weak). For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.8 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: aka2026jmwpsb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 14, 2026). M3.8 Earthquake 27 km SW of Petersville, AlaskaMay 14, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/aka2026jmwpsb/