Utah’s Wasatch Front faces significant hazard from the Wasatch fault; the 2020 M5.7 Magna quake struck near Salt Lake City.
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 Utah.
What the record shows for Utah
The strongest earthquake on record near Utah is a magnitude 6.6 in 1901, centred Near Marysvale, Utah - 125 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 26 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Utah - roughly 1 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 Utah (most recently 1909). The most significant was in 1909 near Utah, triggered by an M6.0 earthquake.
4 volcanoes are catalogued near Utah, including Black Rock Desert, Markagunt Plateau, Bald Knoll, Santa Clara. 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 Utah hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Utah - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Utah - FAQ
Is Utah at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 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 M6.6 in 1901.
What was the biggest earthquake in Utah?
The strongest earthquake on record near Utah is M6.6, in 1901 (Near Marysvale, Utah), from USGS.
Does Utah get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1909 (most recently 1909) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Utah?
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.