USGS · August 21, 2026
Magnitude 3.9 earthquake — 1 km WSW of Hope, Alaska
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake was recorded near 1 km WSW of Hope, Alaska on Aug 21, 2026, 11:42 PM (local time at the epicentre — AKDT, UTC-8), at a depth of about 31.3 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 947 people · community intensity IV (light)Shaking IIIShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-02 23:16 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.9 · local (Richter) magnitude
- Location
- 1 km WSW of Hope, Alaska
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 21, 2026, 11:42 PM — AKDT, UTC-8
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-22 07:42 UTC
- Depth
- 31.3 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 60.911, -149.666
- Felt reports
- Felt by 947 people · community intensity IV (light)
- Estimated shaking
- III · Weak
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 594 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 212 seismic stations used · 42° 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 IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
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 2,250 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 433,665 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Girdwood | 27.2 km E | 2,250 |
| Anchorage | 36.4 km NNW | 289,600 |
| Elmendorf Air Force Base | 38.5 km N | 6,621 |
| Eagle River | 45.9 km N | 24,793 |
| Knik-Fairview | 67.0 km N | 14,923 |
| Big Lake | 69.6 km NNW | 3,350 |
| Sterling | 72.8 km SW | 5,617 |
| Funny River | 75.0 km SW | 1,103 |
| Wasilla | 75.5 km N | 9,284 |
| Gateway | 77.0 km NNE | 5,552 |
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
7 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.3 13 km ENE of Susitna, AlaskaFelt · 15
M 3.0 23 km ESE of Elmendorf Air Force Base, AlaskaFelt · 34
M 3.1 4 km WSW of Point Possession, AlaskaFelt · 1
M 3.4 23 km E of Point Possession, AlaskaFelt · 6
M 3.0 29 km SW of Hope, AlaskaFelt · 1
M 3.1 16 km SSW of Funny River, AlaskaFelt · 1
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 1 km WSW of Hope, Alaska earthquake?
Magnitude 3.9 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 31.3 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 21, 2026, 11:42 PM (local time at the epicentre — AKDT, UTC-8). In universal time: 2026-08-22 07:42 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 947 people · community intensity IV (light). 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 Girdwood, 27.2 km E (population 2,250).
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 7 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.