Earthquakes in Seattle, Washington
Last earthquake: 1 day ago · 37 in past 30 days · Largest: M2.5 · Population 749K
Last updated: August 20, 2026 at 07:24 AM UTC · Data: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
No significant earthquakes recorded near Seattle recently. Last M2.5+: 11 days ago.
Quick Facts — Earthquakes in Seattle
- Population
- 749K
- Seismic activity level
- very high
- Nearest major fault
- Seattle Fault Zone (1 km)
- Largest recorded nearby
- M9.0 (1700 Cascadia earthquake)
- 30-year probability M6.7+
- 65% (NSHM)
- Earthquakes past 30 days
- 37
- Last significant (M2.5+)
- 11 days ago
- 2026 total (M1.0+)
- 277
The Seattle area averages about 2.5 magnitude 4.0+ earthquakes per year and has recorded 37 earthquakes (M1.0+) within 75 km in the past 30 days. The largest event in the past 30 days was a magnitude 2.5 event 11 km SSW of River Road, Washington.
Seattle sits in the very high category for U.S. seismic activity. The largest earthquake in or near Seattle since records began was the magnitude 9.0 1700 Cascadia earthquake, which struck approximately 200 km west (offshore) of the city.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Seismic Hazard Model, there is approximately a 65% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake within 100 km of Seattle in the next 30 years, and a 25% probability of a magnitude 7.0 or greater event. The largest credible earthquake predicted for the Seattle area is a magnitude 7.5 event on the Seattle Fault Zone, which lies 1 km from downtown Seattle. Source: USGS Fact Sheet 2025-3050 (Pacific Northwest); Seattle CEMP SHIVA
Seattle sits in a region characterized by the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where the Juan de Fuca Plate subducts beneath North America and is capable of producing M9+ megathrust earthquakes. Beyond the Seattle Fault Zone, secondary fault systems include the Cascadia Subduction Zone and South Whidbey Island Fault. View all earthquakes in Washington.
2026 Activity vs Historical Average
Earthquake Map — Seattle Area
Fault Lines Near Seattle
| Fault Name | Type | Distance | Max Credible Mag | Last Major Rupture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Fault Zone | reverse | 1 km | M7.5 | ~923-924 CE (M ~7+) |
| Cascadia Subduction Zone | subduction zone | 200 km | M9.0 | 1700 (M9.0) |
| South Whidbey Island Fault | oblique-slip | 30 km | M7.5 | paleoseismic — multiple events past 16,000 years |
| Tacoma Fault Zone | reverse | 35 km | M7.0 | ~1050 CE |
| Juan de Fuca Plate (intraslab) | intraslab | 60 km | M7.0 | 2001 (M6.8 Nisqually) |
Recent Earthquakes (Last 30 Days)
Dataset at a glance — Seattle
Over the past 30 days, Seattle has recorded 37 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater in our tracker. The remaining 1 fell in the M2.5–M3.9 band. By depth: 37 shallow (<70 km). 14 of the epicenters were offshore. 4 events produced at least one felt report, totalling 8 citizen submissions to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Focal depths ranged from -0.6 km to 44.5 km. All 37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026-08-09 2026-08-09 02:20:38 UTC | 2.5ml | 11 km SSW of River Road, Washington 47.972°, -123.171° | 44.5 km | 2 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On August 9, 2026 at 02:20 UTC, a magnitude 2.5 earthquake struck 11 km SSW of River Road, Washington. It is the largest earthquake currently listed for Seattle over the past 30 days. See the M2.5 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-31 2026-07-31 07:37:54 UTC | 2.2ml | 10 km NNE of Startup, Washington 47.958°, -121.701° | -0.3 km | 4 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 2.2 earthquake was recorded 10 km NNE of Startup, Washington on July 31, 2026 at 07:37 UTC. This very shallow event was close enough to the surface that even modest magnitudes can produce significant local shaking. See the M2.2 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-25 2026-07-25 10:04:10 UTC | 2.2ml | 2 km WSW of Wauna, Washington 47.370°, -122.674° | 34.4 km | 1 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Seismographs logged a magnitude 2.2 earthquake 2 km WSW of Wauna, Washington with origin time 10:04 UTC on July 25, 2026. See the M2.2 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
Common Questions About Earthquakes in Seattle
How often do earthquakes happen in Seattle?
Seattle experiences frequent earthquake activity. The area averages 22 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater per year, with 0.3 reaching magnitude 5.0 or higher. In the past 30 days, 37 earthquakes (M1.0+) have been recorded within 75 km of the city.
What was the biggest earthquake to hit Seattle?
The largest earthquake in or near Seattle since records began was the magnitude 9.0 1700 Cascadia earthquake in 1700, which struck approximately 200 km west (offshore) of the city.
What is the earthquake risk in Seattle?
Earthquakes cannot be predicted with precision. However, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates there is approximately a 65% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake within 100 km of Seattle in the next 30 years. The most likely source is the Seattle Fault Zone, which has a maximum credible magnitude of 7.5.
What fault lines are near Seattle?
The Seattle Fault Zone runs approximately 1 km from Seattle and is the most significant local seismic threat, with a maximum credible magnitude of 7.5. Other nearby faults include the Cascadia Subduction Zone (200 km), the South Whidbey Island Fault (30 km), the Tacoma Fault Zone (35 km).
Was there an earthquake in Seattle today?
No earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater have been recorded near Seattle in the past 24 hours. The most recent M2.5+ event was 11 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 20, 2026 at 07:24 AM UTC