Live seismic activity in Washington — updated every 60 seconds from USGS data. Washington sits above the Cascadia Subduction Zone and has several active crustal faults beneath the Puget Sound region.
See real‑time seismic activity in Washington. This page shows all earthquakes from the last 24 hours, updated every 60 seconds from USGS.
Washington sits above the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which last ruptured on January 26, 1700 in an earthquake of about M9. Deeper earthquakes within the subducting plate, such as the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, and shallow crustal faults beneath Puget Sound add to the hazard. Major faults include the Cascadia Subduction Zone, Seattle Fault, Tacoma Fault, and South Whidbey Island Fault. Notable quakes include the 2001 Nisqually earthquake (M6.8), the 1965 Seattle–Tacoma earthquake (M6.7), the 1949 Olympia earthquake (M6.8) and the 1700 Cascadia earthquake (about M9). The seismic risk is high. Tectonically, Washington lies on the North American Plate, where the Juan de Fuca Plate subducts beneath it. This page provides real‑time USGS data and historical context for Washington.
See earthquakes today in Washington with real‑time USGS data. Filter by magnitude, depth, and find earthquakes near me in Washington. Updated every 60 seconds.
The region is defined by Cascadia Subduction Zone, Seattle Fault, Tacoma Fault, South Whidbey Island Fault, and the risk level is classified as High. With a population of 7.8 million, understanding local seismic hazards is crucial.
Washington lies on Juan de Fuca Plate subducting beneath North American Plate. The movement of these plates builds up stress, which is released as earthquakes. In subduction zones, one plate dives beneath another, generating some of the largest quakes on Earth. In some regions, strike‑slip faults produce frequent moderate earthquakes.
Use the live map above – it shows all earthquakes from the last 24 hours, updated every 60 seconds from USGS. Click any dot for details.
The strongest recorded earthquake in Washington was the 2001 Nisqually earthquake (M6.8). 2001 Nisqually (M6.8)
Washington experiences approximately 200-500 earthquakes per year, with 20-50 felt (M3.0+) and 2-5 potentially damaging events (M5.0+) annually, according to USGS historical data.
The most recent major earthquake in Washington was the 2001 Nisqually earthquake (M6.8). 2001 Nisqually (M6.8)
Yes. Washington is crossed by Cascadia Subduction Zone, Seattle Fault, Tacoma Fault, South Whidbey Island Fault, making it prone to seismic activity. The seismic risk level is classified as High.
Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay away from windows, and if outdoors, move to an open area. After the shaking stops, check for injuries and be ready for aftershocks. Prepare an emergency kit with water, food, first aid, and a flashlight.
Data sources: USGS real‑time feed, USGS historical archive, and Wikipedia. Page refreshes live earthquake data every 60 seconds.