Earthquakes in the United States — December 2024

8253 earthquakes were recorded in the United States during December 2024, an average of 266.2 per day.

12 reached magnitude 4 or above and 2 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 12 km.

The month's largest event in the United States was a magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Yerington, United States on 09 December 2024 at 23:08 UTC. A magnitude 5.7 earthquake radiates roughly 5,351 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the the United States monthly average of 3650 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and up from the 3369 recorded the previous month.

96% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 4% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.

By band, the catalogue holds 9 in the magnitude -2 range, 659 in the magnitude -1 range, 2120 in the magnitude 0 range, 4060 in the magnitude 1 range, 1252 in the magnitude 2 range, 141 in the magnitude 3 range.

Activity peaked on 05 December, when 456 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.7 near Yerington, United States on 09 December at 9 km; M5.0 near False Pass, United States on 09 December at 35 km; M4.3 near Atka, United States on 07 December at 11 km.

That is 126% above the 3650 events the United States averages per month across the 2 months on record.

This month also holds the strongest earthquake recorded in the United States in our entire catalogue.