List of earthquakes in Utah

Last updated

USA Utah relief location map.svg
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1901
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1921
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1934
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1962
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1967
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1989
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1992
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2020

This is a list of moderate to large earthquakes that have occurred in Utah. Only earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater are listed. Aftershocks are not included, unless they were of great significance or contributed to a death toll. Earthquakes occur frequently in Utah, though they tend to be small (below a 5.0 magnitude).

Contents

The highest-risk zone is along the Wasatch Front, where most of the state's population is located. The larger cities include the state's capital, Salt Lake City, as well as Lehi, Ogden, Orem, Provo, Sandy, and West Valley City.

Chronological list

DateName of QuakeLocationMagDepthLatLongDeathsNotesRefs
November 13, 1901 1901 Richfield Richfield 7.038.77°N112.08°W0 [1] [2]
September 30, 1921 1921 Sevier Valley Elsinore 6.338.68°N112.15°W0There were three main shocks: two on Sep. 29 and one on Oct. 1. [1] [2]
March 12, 1934 1934 Hansel Valley Great Salt Lake (just north of the lake)6.6 MW 10.0 km (6.2 mi)41.7°N112.8°W2 [1] [3]
August 30, 1962 1962 Cache Valley Cache Valley 5.9 ML 41.92°N111.63°W0 [1] [4]
October 4, 19671967 5.6 Marysvale 5.6 MW 7.0 km (4.3 mi)38.540°N112.160°W0 [5]
January 30, 19891989 5.2Salina Canyon, Sevier County 5.219.0 km (11.8 mi)38.831°N111.620°W0 [6]
September 2, 1992 1992 St. George St. George 5.8 MW 13.9 km (8.6 mi)37.1°N113.497°W0 [7]
March 18, 2020 2020 Salt Lake City Magna 5.7 MW 11.7 km (7.3 mi)40.851°N112.081°W0 [8]

See also

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The 1934 Hansel Valley earthquake occurred on March 12 at approximately 8:05 a.m. MST with a moment magnitude of 6.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The shock originated in the Hansel Valley at the north end of the Great Salt Lake in Utah in the United States. Damage was mostly confined to vulnerable buildings, and two people died. The dip-slip (normal) fault that generated the shock ruptured the surface of the ground and other geologic features were documented. A large aftershock occurred three hours after the initial event and may have caused additional damage.

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The 2020 Central Idaho earthquake occurred in the western United States on March 31, 2020, at 5:52 PM MDT, near Ruffneck Peak in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho, 72 miles (116 km) northeast of Boise and 19 miles (31 km) northwest of Stanley. It had a magnitude of 6.5 and was felt with a maximum intensity of VIII.

The 1901 Richfield earthquake was a magnitude Mw7.0 earthquake that occurred on 13 November 1901 at approximately 9:39 PM MST at Richfield, Utah, United States. If estimations are accurate, it is the largest earthquake ever recorded in Utah.

The 1921 Sevier Valley earthquake was a series of three earthquakes. The primary quake was a magnitude Mw6.3 earthquake that occurred on Thursday, 29 September 1921 at approximately 7:12 AM MT in Elsinore, Utah, United States. The first aftershock occurred in the evening on the same day, and a second aftershock occurred two days later on 1 October. No people were killed in the quake or in the subsequent aftershocks.

The 1962 Cache Valley earthquake was a magnitude Mw5.9 earthquake that occurred on Thursday, 30 August 1962 at approximately 6:35 AM MT north of Richmond, Utah, United States, at the border between Utah and Idaho. No people were killed in the quake. The quake caused between US $1–2 million in damage.

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An earthquake occurred off the coast of the Alaska Peninsula on July 28, 2021, at 10:15 p.m. local time. The large megathrust earthquake had a moment magnitude of 8.2 according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A tsunami warning was issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) but later cancelled. The mainshock was followed by a number of aftershocks, including three that were of magnitude 5.9, 6.1 and 6.9 respectively.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dunn, Scott (October 9, 2012). "5 biggest earthquakes ever to happen in Utah". KSL.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Hopper, Margaret G. (April 4, 1988). "Large Earthquakes in Sevier County, Utah, in 1901 and 1921" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Open-File Report 88-404. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  3. "M 6.6 – Utah". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  4. "Earthquake Summary" (PDF). University of Utah . Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  5. "M 5.6 – Utah". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  6. "M 5.2 – Utah". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  7. Pearthree, Philip A.; Wallace, Terry C. (Winter 1992). "The St. George Earthquake of September 2, 1992" (PDF). Arizona Geology . 22 (4): 7–8. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  8. Cramer, Maria; Diaz, Johnny (March 18, 2020). "5.7-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near Salt Lake City: 'The Last Thing We Need Right Now'". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2020.