M4.4 Earthquake 39 km NNW of Stanley, Idaho — September 8, 2020
2020-09-08 20:24:29 UTC (2020-09-08) · approx. 12:24 PM UTC-8 local
Felt by 101 people across surrounding communities. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.4 (moderate).
On September 8, 2020 at 20:24 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 39 km NNW of Stanley, Idaho, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 44.5345°, -115.1538°. The earthquake was reported felt by 101 peopleacross surrounding communities, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 4.4 (moderate). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. The nearest populated place is Sun Valley (population 1,406).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Idaho, a region characterized by the track of the Yellowstone hotspot and the Centennial Tectonic Belt, producing both volcanic and tectonic seismicity. View all earthquakes in Idaho.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Nearest Populated Places
What the Shaking Felt Like
At MMI 4.4 (moderate), people in the most strongly affected areas would have experienced: Mild shaking, similar to a passing truck. Hanging objects swing. Glasses and dishes may rattle. Not commonly felt outdoors.
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.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 101 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 1,855 |
| MMI 4 | light | 2 |
Earthquake Details
-115.1538°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Stanley, Idaho?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 39 km NNW of Stanley, Idaho on September 8, 2020 at 20:24 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. It was felt by 101 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 4.4 (moderate). For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 44.5345°, -115.1538°, which is 39 km NNW of Stanley, Idaho. The nearest populated place is Sun Valley (population 1,406). View all earthquakes in Idaho.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Idaho had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Idaho was the M7.3 Borah Peak earthquake of October 28, 1983. Today's magnitude 4.4 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000bjzi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 8, 2020). M4.4 Earthquake 39 km NNW of Stanley, Idaho — September 8, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000bjzi/