Oregon faces hazard from the offshore Cascadia subduction zone, capable of a great M9 earthquake and tsunami. Great earthquakes on the Cascadia subduction zone recur roughly every 200–800 years. The last was the 1700 Cascadia earthquake (M9.0), 326 years ago. It sent a tsunami across the Pacific that was recorded in Japan. This page pulls real records for Oregon: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for 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 Oregon.
Check Oregon hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Oregon - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Oregon - FAQ
Is Oregon at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 2 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 M6.0 in 1993.
What was the biggest earthquake in Oregon?
The strongest earthquake on record near Oregon is M6.0, in 1993 (27 km WNW of Klamath Falls, Oregon), from USGS.
Does Oregon get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1980 (most recently 1980) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 61 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Oregon?
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.