Earthquakes in the United States — May 2025

6805 earthquakes were recorded in the United States during May 2025, an average of 219.5 per day.

39 reached magnitude 4 or above and 5 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 14 km.

The month's largest event in the United States was a magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Sand Point, United States on 17 May 2025 at 15:09 UTC. A magnitude 5.4 earthquake radiates roughly 1,898 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the the United States monthly average of 7168 events over the period we cover, and down from the 7675 recorded the previous month.

95% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 5% 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 21 in the magnitude -2 range, 397 in the magnitude -1 range, 2075 in the magnitude 0 range, 3318 in the magnitude 1 range, 806 in the magnitude 2 range, 149 in the magnitude 3 range.

Activity peaked on 07 May, when 329 events were recorded.

8 event(s) this month carry a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information; the flag does not indicate whether a tsunami occurred.

The month's largest events were M5.4 near Sand Point, United States on 17 May at 31 km; M5.4 near Whites City, United States on 04 May at 8 km; M5.2 near Atka, United States on 30 May at 8 km.

That is close to the 7168 events the United States averages per month across the 21 months on record.