USGS · August 20, 2026
Magnitude 3.5 earthquake — 31 km SE of Chickaloon, Alaska
A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was recorded near 31 km SE of Chickaloon, Alaska on Aug 20, 2026, 09:58 AM (local time at the epicentre — AKDT, UTC-8), at a depth of about 12.4 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 6 people · community intensity II (weak)Shaking IIIShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-02 17:46 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.5 · local (Richter) magnitude
- Location
- 31 km SE of Chickaloon, Alaska
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 20, 2026, 09:58 AM — AKDT, UTC-8
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-20 17:58 UTC
- Depth
- 12.4 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 61.566, -148.103
- Felt reports
- Felt by 6 people · community intensity II (weak)
- Estimated shaking
- III · Weak
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 190 / 1000 · routine event
- Solution quality
- 190 seismic stations used · 20° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Estimated instrumental shaking III (Weak): Felt indoors; hanging objects swing, like a passing truck.
People who reported it described intensity II (Weak): Felt by a few people at rest, mostly on upper floors.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 111,777 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Sutton-Alpine | 44.8 km WNW | 1,447 |
| Lazy Mountain | 45.1 km W | 1,479 |
| Butte | 49.3 km W | 3,246 |
| Palmer | 53.7 km W | 6,788 |
| Farm Loop | 55.5 km W | 1,028 |
| Gateway | 60.2 km W | 5,552 |
| Fishhook | 63.0 km WNW | 4,679 |
| Lakes | 64.0 km W | 8,364 |
| Tanaina | 70.4 km W | 8,197 |
| Wasilla | 70.9 km W | 9,284 |
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in Alaska.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
1 other event within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 31 km SE of Chickaloon, Alaska
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 31 km SE of Chickaloon, Alaska earthquake?
Magnitude 3.5 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 12.4 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Aug 20, 2026, 09:58 AM (local time at the epicentre — AKDT, UTC-8). In universal time: 2026-08-20 17:58 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 6 people · community intensity II (weak). Felt indoors; hanging objects swing, like a passing truck.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Sutton-Alpine, 44.8 km WNW (population 1,447).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 9.2 (The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake, 1964), and 1 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.