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).
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
| Date | Name of Quake | Location | Mag | Depth | Lat | Long | Deaths | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 13, 1901 | 1901 Richfield | Richfield | 7.0 | 38.77°N | 112.08°W | 0 | [1] [2] | ||
| September 30, 1921 | 1921 Sevier Valley | Elsinore | 6.3 | 38.68°N | 112.15°W | 0 | There 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°N | 112.8°W | 2 | [1] [3] | |
| August 30, 1962 | 1962 Cache Valley | Cache Valley | 5.9 ML | 41.92°N | 111.63°W | 0 | [1] [4] | ||
| October 4, 1967 | 1967 5.6 | Marysvale | 5.6 MW | 7.0 km (4.3 mi) | 38.540°N | 112.160°W | 0 | [5] | |
| January 30, 1989 | 1989 5.2 | Salina Canyon, Sevier County | 5.2 | 19.0 km (11.8 mi) | 38.831°N | 111.620°W | 0 | [6] | |
| September 2, 1992 | 1992 St. George | St. George | 5.8 MW | 13.9 km (8.6 mi) | 37.1°N | 113.497°W | 0 | [7] | |
| March 18, 2020 | 2020 Salt Lake City | Magna | 5.7 MW | 11.7 km (7.3 mi) | 40.851°N | 112.081°W | 0 | [8] |
October 9th 1983 4.25-4.6 An earthquake rattled windows and awakened people in the Salt Lake City.
No damage was reported but there was one minor injury, the police said. The quake's magnitude on the Richter scale of ground motion was reported by separate agencies as 4.25 and 4.6. It was centered about two miles south of Salt Lake International Airport.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "M 6.6 - Utah". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Earthquake Summary" (PDF). University of Utah. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- ^ "M 5.6 - Utah". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ "M 5.2 - Utah". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Cramer, Maria; Diaz, Johnny (March 18, 2020). "5.7-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near Salt Lake City: 'The Last Thing We Need Right Now'". New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2020.