Earthquakes

USGS · Updated Every 10 minutes · Source: USGS

About Earthquakes

Earthquakes are sudden releases of energy in Earth's crust that create seismic waves. The United States experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, with the western states (California, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest) at highest risk due to active fault systems. Even moderate earthquakes can cause significant structural damage and trigger secondary hazards like landslides and tsunamis.

Data Source

Data is sourced from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program real-time GeoJSON feed, which aggregates detections from hundreds of seismograph stations across the National Seismic Network (NSN) and regional networks. Events are typically posted within 1–5 minutes of occurrence. The feed covers the entire US territory including Alaska, Hawaii, and US territories.

What the Map Shows

All USGS-recorded M2.5+ earthquakes from the past 7 days, color-coded by magnitude. Each marker displays the magnitude, depth, location, and exact UTC time of the event. Larger, brighter markers indicate stronger or more recent earthquakes.

Explore Other Hazards

Hazard Map tracks 10 natural hazard types across the United States. View all hazards →