US state · live catalogue
Earthquakes in Washington
In the last 30 days, 2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in Washington; the largest was a magnitude 4.2 earthquake 12 km W of Maplewood, Washington, United States on 29 Sep 2026.
Data: USGS · updated · sources and licences
- 24 hours
- 2
- all magnitudes
- 7 days
- 0
- M2.5+
- 30 days
- 2
- M2.5+
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Last 24 hours
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.3ml | 54 km NNE of Battle Ground, Washington, United States | |
| 0.3ml | 47 km E of Kelso, Washington, United States |
Earlier this week, magnitude 2.5 and above
None of magnitude 2.5 or greater earlier this week.
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Largest in the last 30 days
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2ml | 12 km W of Maplewood, Washington, United States | |
| 2.6ml | Near Mount Vernon, Washington, United States |
Where they occurred
Largest since 1900
Magnitude 6 and above in Washington.
Loading the historical catalogue…
About earthquakes in Washington
Western Washington lies above the Cascadia subduction zone, where the Juan de Fuca plate moves beneath North America. The last great Cascadia earthquake, around magnitude 9, struck in January 1700 and sent a tsunami as far as Japan.
Deeper earthquakes within the subducting plate, like the 2001 M6.8 Nisqually earthquake, and shallow faults such as the Seattle fault also contribute to the hazard. Washington is covered by the ShakeAlert early warning system.
Local monitoring and information: Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
Earthquake preparedness checklist · Earthquakes today worldwide
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Questions
How many earthquakes happen in Washington?
In the last 30 days, 2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in Washington, 0 of them in the last 7 days. In the last 24 hours, 2 earthquakes of any magnitude were recorded. Most small earthquakes are not felt.
What was the largest recent earthquake in Washington?
The largest in the last 30 days was a magnitude 4.2 earthquake 12 km W of Maplewood, Washington, United States on 29 Sep 2026, at a depth of 28 km.
What is the largest earthquake recorded in Washington since 1900?
According to the USGS catalogue, the largest was a magnitude 6.8 earthquake on 28 Feb 2001 (The 2001 Nisqually, Washington Earthquake). Magnitudes of early 20th-century earthquakes are less certain than modern ones.
Where can I get official earthquake information for Washington?
For official information, warnings and safety advice, follow Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (https://pnsn.org/) and your local civil protection authority. This site compiles agency reports and is not a warning service.
How are earthquakes assigned to Washington on this page?
An earthquake is listed in Washington 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.