M 3.0 Earthquake Recorded 217 km SW of Yakutat, Alaska

What Happened

A minor earthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 ml occurred on March 18, 2026, at 20:17:05 UTC. The seismic event was centered approximately 217 km southwest of Yakutat, Alaska, and was recorded automatically by the USGS.

Location Details

The earthquake’s epicenter was located at coordinates 58.27°N and 142.579°W. The seismic activity originated at a depth of 60.1 km. This depth is classified as intermediate, as it falls within the 20-70 km range, which can influence how seismic energy is distributed compared to shallower events.

Impact Assessment

There were no felt reports submitted to the USGS for this event. No tsunami advisory, watch, or warning was issued (tsunami: 0). Additionally, no specific alert level color was assigned to this earthquake, which is typical for routine seismic activity of this magnitude in remote offshore locations.

What You Should Know

Earthquakes with a magnitude between 2.5 and 3.9 are classified as “minor.” While these events are often felt by people near the epicenter, they rarely cause structural damage. Residents in seismically active regions like Alaska should be aware that such events are routine geological occurrences. Aftershocks are a possibility following any seismic event, though they are generally smaller than the initial earthquake.

Source

Information and data for this report were provided by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.