Idaho is seismically active across its central mountains; the 2020 M6.5 Stanley earthquake was one of the state’s largest in decades.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Idaho.
What the record shows for Idaho
The strongest earthquake on record near Idaho is a magnitude 7.2 in 1959, centred The 1959 Hebgen Lake, Montana Earthquake - 67 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 50 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Idaho - roughly 3 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 1 tsunami within 300 km of Idaho (most recently 1959). The most significant was in 1959 near Hegben Lake, Montana, triggered by an M7.2 earthquake, which killed around 28 people.
4 volcanoes are catalogued near Idaho, including Black Butte Crater Lava Field, Craters of the Moon, Wapi Lava Field, Hell's Half Acre. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check Idaho hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Idaho - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Idaho - FAQ
Is Idaho at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 3 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.2 in 1959.
What was the biggest earthquake in Idaho?
The strongest earthquake on record near Idaho is M7.2, in 1959 (The 1959 Hebgen Lake, Montana Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Idaho get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1959 (most recently 1959) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 28 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Idaho?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.