USGS · October 16, 2026
Magnitude 3.6 earthquake near Eagle River, Alaska
A magnitude 3.6 earthquake was recorded near 2 km NW of Knik, Alaska on Oct 16, 2026, 06:49 AM (local time at the epicentre — AKDT, UTC-8), at a depth of about 49.9 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 429 people · community intensity III (weak)Shaking IVShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-10-16 16:38 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.6 · local (Richter) magnitude
- Location
- 2 km NW of Knik, Alaska
- Local time at the epicentre
- Oct 16, 2026, 06:49 AM — AKDT, UTC-8
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-10-16 14:49 UTC
- Depth
- 49.9 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 61.474, -149.769
- Felt reports
- Felt by 429 people · community intensity III (weak)
- Estimated shaking
- IV · Light
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 345 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 170 seismic stations used · 33° 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 IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
People who reported it described intensity III (Weak): Felt indoors; hanging objects swing, like a passing truck.
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 374,908 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 404,739 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Knik-Fairview | 9.9 km ENE | 14,923 |
| Big Lake | 11.2 km WNW | 3,350 |
| Houston | 17.6 km N | 2,206 |
| Meadow Lakes | 19.0 km NNE | 7,570 |
| Eagle River | 20.1 km SSE | 24,793 |
| Wasilla | 21.0 km NE | 9,284 |
| Tanaina | 24.8 km NE | 8,197 |
| Elmendorf Air Force Base | 25.2 km SSE | 6,621 |
| Lakes | 28.5 km ENE | 8,364 |
| Anchorage | 29.3 km SSW | 289,600 |
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 22 km SW of Hope, AlaskaFelt · 10
M 3.4 4 km NE of Big Lake, AlaskaFelt · 145
M 3.5 32 km N of Fishhook, AlaskaFelt · 3
M 3.7 14 km SSE of Susitna North, AlaskaFelt · 8
M 3.2 27 km ESE of Skwentna, AlaskaFelt · 2
M 3.2 21 km SSW of Susitna, AlaskaFelt · 2
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 2 km NW of Knik, Alaska
SeismoWatch pushes a notification to your Android phone within minutes of a matching earthquake — for the area and magnitude you choose.
Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 2 km NW of Knik, Alaska earthquake?
Magnitude 3.6 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 49.9 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?
Oct 16, 2026, 06:49 AM (local time at the epicentre — AKDT, UTC-8). In universal time: 2026-10-16 14:49 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 429 people · community intensity III (weak). Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Knik-Fairview, 9.9 km ENE (population 14,923).
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), in Venezuela FUNVISIS and in Brazil the RSBR through the Centro de Sismologia da USP. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.