Earthquakes in Salt Lake City, Utah
Last earthquake: 4 days ago · 9 in past 30 days · Largest: M2.9 · Population 200K
Last updated: August 21, 2026 at 06:08 PM UTC · Data: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
No significant earthquakes recorded near Salt Lake City recently. Last M2.5+: 13 days ago.
Quick Facts — Earthquakes in Salt Lake City
- Population
- 200K
- Seismic activity level
- high
- Nearest major fault
- Wasatch Fault (Salt Lake City segment) (1 km)
- Largest recorded nearby
- M5.7 (2020 Magna earthquake)
- 30-year probability M6.7+
- 28% (NSHM)
- Earthquakes past 30 days
- 9
- Last significant (M2.5+)
- 13 days ago
- 2026 total (M1.0+)
- 63
The Salt Lake City area averages about 1.5 magnitude 4.0+ earthquakes per year and has recorded 9 earthquakes (M1.0+) within 75 km in the past 30 days. The largest event in the past 30 days was a magnitude 2.9 event 6 km NNW of Saratoga Springs, Utah.
Salt Lake City sits in the high category for U.S. seismic activity. The largest earthquake in or near Salt Lake City since records began was the magnitude 5.7 Magna earthquake in 2020, which struck approximately 15 km west of the city.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Seismic Hazard Model, there is approximately a 28% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake within 100 km of Salt Lake City in the next 30 years, and a 15% probability of a magnitude 7.0 or greater event. The largest credible earthquake predicted for the Salt Lake City area is a magnitude 7.5 event on the Wasatch Fault (Salt Lake City segment), which lies 1 km from downtown Salt Lake City. Source: USGS Working Group on Utah Earthquake Probabilities (2016); USGS NSHM 2023
Salt Lake City sits in 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. Beyond the Wasatch Fault (Salt Lake City segment), secondary fault systems include the West Valley Fault Zone and Oquirrh Fault Zone. View all earthquakes in Utah.
2026 Activity vs Historical Average
Earthquake Map — Salt Lake City Area
Fault Lines Near Salt Lake City
| Fault Name | Type | Distance | Max Credible Mag | Last Major Rupture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasatch Fault (Salt Lake City segment) | normal | 1 km | M7.5 | paleoseismic — last major ~1400 CE |
| West Valley Fault Zone | normal | 10 km | M6.7 | paleoseismic data limited |
| Oquirrh Fault Zone | normal | 25 km | M6.7 | 2020 (M5.7 Magna) |
| Wasatch Fault (Provo segment) | normal | 60 km | M7.5 | paleoseismic ~600 CE |
Recent Earthquakes (Last 30 Days)
Dataset at a glance — Salt Lake City
Over the past 30 days, Salt Lake City has recorded 9 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater in our tracker. The remaining 1 fell in the M2.5–M3.9 band. By depth: 9 shallow (<70 km). 1 event produced at least one felt report, totalling 551 citizen submissions to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Focal depths ranged from 3.0 km to 13.8 km. All 9 solutions have been reviewed by a USGS seismologist.
Each row in the table below includes a narrative summary of the event, ordered by time. Use the column headers to sort or filter by magnitude.
| Time ↓ | Mag ↕ | Location ↕ | Depth ↕ | Felt ↕ | MMI | Alert | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 days ago 2026-08-16 20:02:50 UTC | 1.0md | 5 km NNW of Saratoga Springs, Utah 40.392°, -111.941° | 3.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 1.0 seismic event took place 5 km NNW of Saratoga Springs, Utah on August 16, 2026 at 20:02 UTC. This is the shallowest earthquake in the current dataset — a shallow crustal event. See the M1.0 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
6 days ago 2026-08-15 05:31:19 UTC | 1.1md | 5 km ENE of Morgan, Utah 41.053°, -111.619° | 8.4 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
This magnitude 1.1 event was detected 5 km ENE of Morgan, Utah on August 15, 2026, with origin time 05:31 UTC. It arrived roughly 9 hours after a larger magnitude 1.2 mainshock in the same 20 km area, placing it within the typical aftershock window. See the M1.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
6 days ago 2026-08-14 20:06:36 UTC | 1.2ml | 12 km SSW of Morgan, Utah 40.933°, -111.725° | 6.8 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
The USGS recorded this magnitude 1.2 earthquake 12 km SSW of Morgan, Utah at 20:06 UTC on August 14, 2026. See the M1.2 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-12 2026-08-12 08:16:50 UTC | 1.0md | 9 km NNE of Henefer, Utah 41.103°, -111.472° | 13.8 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Reports of a magnitude 1.0 earthquake 9 km NNE of Henefer, Utah came in on August 12, 2026 at 08:16 UTC. This is the deepest earthquake in the current dataset — a shallow crustal event. See the M1.0 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-08 2026-08-08 13:18:28 UTC | 1.3ml | 6 km NNW of Saratoga Springs, Utah 40.402°, -111.928° | 4.9 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
At 13:18 UTC on August 8, 2026, a magnitude 1.3 tremor occurred 6 km NNW of Saratoga Springs, Utah. This event falls inside the aftershock decay of a nearby magnitude 2.9 earthquake that occurred about 13 hours earlier. This very shallow event was close enough to the surface that even modest magnitudes can produce significant local shaking. See the M1.3 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-07 2026-08-07 23:55:23 UTC | 2.9ml | 6 km NNW of Saratoga Springs, Utah 40.403°, -111.931° | 6.7 km | 551 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On August 7, 2026 at 23:55 UTC, a magnitude 2.9 earthquake struck 6 km NNW of Saratoga Springs, Utah. It is the largest earthquake currently listed for Salt Lake City over the past 30 days. See the M2.9 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-04 2026-08-04 02:20:35 UTC | 1.5ml | 3 km SSE of Magna, Utah 40.676°, -112.083° | 11.7 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On August 4, 2026, Salt Lake City registered a magnitude 1.5 earthquake 3 km SSE of Magna, Utah at 02:20 UTC. See the M1.5 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-02 2026-08-02 04:29:56 UTC | 1.6ml | 6 km NNW of Saratoga Springs, Utah 40.405°, -111.934° | 6.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 1.6 earthquake was recorded 6 km NNW of Saratoga Springs, Utah on August 2, 2026 at 04:29 UTC. See the M1.6 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-23 2026-07-23 20:04:44 UTC | 1.6ml | 2 km ENE of Summit Park, Utah 40.757°, -111.583° | 11.3 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Seismographs logged a magnitude 1.6 earthquake 2 km ENE of Summit Park, Utah with origin time 20:04 UTC on July 23, 2026. See the M1.6 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
Common Questions About Earthquakes in Salt Lake City
How often do earthquakes happen in Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City experiences frequent earthquake activity. The area averages 15 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater per year, with 0.2 reaching magnitude 5.0 or higher. In the past 30 days, 9 earthquakes (M1.0+) have been recorded within 75 km of the city.
What was the biggest earthquake to hit Salt Lake City?
The largest earthquake in or near Salt Lake City since records began was the magnitude 5.7 Magna earthquake in 2020, which struck approximately 15 km west of the city.
What is the earthquake risk in Salt Lake City?
Earthquakes cannot be predicted with precision. However, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates there is approximately a 28% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake within 100 km of Salt Lake City in the next 30 years. The most likely source is the Wasatch Fault (Salt Lake City segment), which has a maximum credible magnitude of 7.5.
What fault lines are near Salt Lake City?
The Wasatch Fault (Salt Lake City segment) runs approximately 1 km from Salt Lake City and is the most significant local seismic threat, with a maximum credible magnitude of 7.5. Other nearby faults include the West Valley Fault Zone (10 km), the Oquirrh Fault Zone (25 km), the Wasatch Fault (Provo segment) (60 km).
Was there an earthquake in Salt Lake City today?
No earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater have been recorded near Salt Lake City in the past 24 hours. The most recent M2.5+ event was 13 days ago.
About This Page
This page is maintained by Earthquake Tracker, an independent seismic activity reporting service. Earthquake data is sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program and updated every hour. Probability estimates use the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM 2023). Historical earthquake data is sourced from the USGS Historical Earthquake Catalog. Fault information comes from the USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database and SCEC Community Fault Model.
Last data refresh: August 21, 2026 at 06:08 PM UTC