Oregon faces hazard from the offshore Cascadia subduction zone, capable of a great M9 earthquake and tsunami.
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.
What the record shows for Oregon
The strongest earthquake on record near Oregon is a magnitude 6.0 in 1993, centred 27 km WNW of Klamath Falls, Oregon - 33 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 35 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Oregon - roughly 2 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.
Oregon sits in the the Cascadia subduction zone system, where the pattern is every 200–800 years. The last major event was the 1700 Cascadia earthquake in 1700 (M9.0), 326 years ago. It sent a tsunami across the Pacific that was recorded in Japan.
The NOAA NCEI database records 1 tsunami within 300 km of Oregon (most recently 1980). The most significant was in 1980 near Washington, which killed around 61 people.
22 volcanoes are catalogued near Oregon, including Devils Garden, Squaw Ridge Field, Newberry, Four Craters Lava Field, Bachelor, South Sister and 16 more. 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 Oregon hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Oregon - or search any city or region.
Popular
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.