US state · live catalogue
Earthquakes in New Mexico
In the last 30 days, 20 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in New Mexico; the largest was a magnitude 3.6 earthquake 87 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States on 8 Oct 2026.
Data: USGS · updated · sources and licences
- 24 hours
- 0
- all magnitudes
- 7 days
- 3
- M2.5+
- 30 days
- 20
- M2.5+
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Last 24 hours
No earthquakes recorded in New Mexico in the last 24 hours.
Earlier this week, magnitude 2.5 and above
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0ml | 87 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 3.6ml | 87 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 2.9ml | 39 km SSW of Artesia, New Mexico, United States |
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Largest in the last 30 days
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6ml | 87 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 3.4ml | 40 km WNW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 3.4ml | 87 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 3.2ml | 85 km S of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 3.1ml | 86 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 3.0ml | 87 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 3.0ml | 85 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 2.9ml | 39 km SSW of Artesia, New Mexico, United States | |
| 2.9mb_lg | 46 km ESE of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 2.9ml | 87 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States |
Where they occurred
Largest since 1900
Magnitude 6 and above in New Mexico.
No earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater are listed in New Mexico in the USGS catalogue since 1900.
About earthquakes in New Mexico
Natural seismicity in New Mexico is concentrated along the Rio Grande rift, including the area around Socorro, where a body of magma lies about 19 km below the surface.
In the southeast, part of the Permian Basin, the number of recorded earthquakes has grown alongside oil and gas activity and wastewater disposal, in the same pattern seen across the border in West Texas.
Local monitoring and information: New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.
Earthquake preparedness checklist · Earthquakes today worldwide
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Questions
How many earthquakes happen in New Mexico?
In the last 30 days, 20 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in New Mexico, 3 of them in the last 7 days. In the last 24 hours, 0 earthquakes of any magnitude were recorded. Most small earthquakes are not felt.
What was the largest recent earthquake in New Mexico?
The largest in the last 30 days was a magnitude 3.6 earthquake 87 km SSW of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States on 8 Oct 2026, at a depth of 6 km.
How deep are earthquakes in New Mexico?
100% of the magnitude 2.5+ earthquakes recorded in New Mexico in the last 30 days were shallower than 70 km. Shallow earthquakes generally cause stronger shaking at the surface than deep ones of the same magnitude.
Where can I get official earthquake information for New Mexico?
For official information, warnings and safety advice, follow New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/) and your local civil protection authority. This site compiles agency reports and is not a warning service.
How are earthquakes assigned to New Mexico on this page?
An earthquake is listed in New Mexico when the nearest town to its epicentre, within 200 km, is in the state. Earthquakes farther offshore are not included. Counts of magnitude 2.5 and above are comparable between states; smaller earthquakes depend on how dense the local seismic network is.
Can earthquakes be predicted?
No. Scientists can estimate how likely strong shaking is in a region over years or decades, but no method predicts the time, place and size of a specific earthquake. Aftershocks are expected after large earthquakes and become less frequent over time.