2.9

M2.9 Earthquake 17 km WSW of Garden, UtahJanuary 7, 2026

2026-01-07 22:25:46 UTC (2026-01-07) · approx. 3:25 PM UTC-7 local

Felt by 15 people across nearby locations.

MagnitudeM2.9(ml)
Time22:25 UTC3:25 PM UTC-7
Depth6.8 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates41.831°, -111.583°
Felt by15DYFI responses· max MMI 2.6
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On January 7, 2026 at 22:25 UTC, a magnitude 2.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 17 km WSW of Garden, Utah, at a depth of 6.8 km and coordinates 41.8307°, -111.5832°. The earthquake was reported felt by 15 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 2.6 (weak). This earthquake was detected by 29 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 136, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 2.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 388 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 64 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

The epicenter is located in Utah, a region characterized by the Wasatch Fault zone at the eastern margin of the Basin and Range Province, where east-west extension produces normal-fault earthquakes. The nearest mapped fault system is the Wasatch Fault. View all earthquakes in Utah.

Learn more: Wasatch Fault · Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 41.83°, -111.58°

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 M2.9 earthquake near 17 km WSW of Garden, Utah

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

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 15 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 M2.9 earthquake near 17 km WSW of Garden, Utah

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

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
2.9 ml
Depth
6.8 km
shallow crustal
Location
41.8307°N
-111.5832°E
Felt Reports
15
DYFI responses
Intensity (MMI)
2.6
weak
Community Intensity
2.2
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
uu80127041
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
136
Stations Used
29
Azimuthal Gap
73.0°
Min Station Distance
0.139°
RMS Residual
0.20 sec
Last Updated
2026-05-04 21:12:20 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 2.9 earthquake near Garden, Utah?

The magnitude 2.9 earthquake that struck 17 km WSW of Garden, Utah on January 7, 2026 at 22:25 UTC had a depth of 6.8 km. It was felt by 15 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 2.6 (weak). For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 41.8307°, -111.5832°, which is 17 km WSW of Garden, Utah. View all earthquakes in Utah.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 2.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Has Utah had earthquakes this big before?

The largest recorded earthquake in Utah was the M6.6 Magna earthquake of March 18, 2020. Today's magnitude 2.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

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: uu80127041). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 7, 2026). M2.9 Earthquake 17 km WSW of Garden, UtahJanuary 7, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/uu80127041/