Earthquakes in the United States — August 2026

7870 earthquakes were recorded in the United States during August 2026, an average of 253.9 per day.

43 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 5.6 earthquake near Skwentna, United States on 08 August 2026 at 04:50 UTC. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake radiates roughly 3,788 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the the United States monthly average of 7025 events over the period we cover, and up from the 7586 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 2 in the magnitude -2 range, 207 in the magnitude -1 range, 2356 in the magnitude 0 range, 3688 in the magnitude 1 range, 1292 in the magnitude 2 range, 282 in the magnitude 3 range.

Activity peaked on 19 August, when 389 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.6 near Skwentna, United States on 08 August at 10 km; M5.2 near Naalehu, United States on 12 August at 11 km; M5.1 near Attu Station, United States on 23 August at 12 km.

That is 12% above the 7025 events the United States averages per month across the 23 months on record.