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M5.3 Earthquake near Nikolski, United States — 03 September 2026, 13:03 UTC

A moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.3 was recorded near Nikolski, United States on , with an epicentre 85 km south-southwest of Nikolski, at a focal depth of 16.6 km. It ranked as the 7th strongest of 7779 earthquakes recorded in the United States in the preceding 30 days.

5.3 Moderate

Time (UTC): 2026-09-03 13:03:23

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 5.3 (moderate)

Focal depth: 16.6 km (shallow)

Epicentre: 52.2220, -169.3270

Location: 85 km SSW of Nikolski, Alaska

Country: United States

USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available

Review status: Reviewed

Source: USGS event page

How strong was this earthquake?

Moderate earthquakes can damage poorly built or unreinforced structures near the epicentre, while well-engineered buildings typically escape serious harm. Shaking is often strong enough to wake sleeping residents over a wide area.

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake radiates roughly 1,344 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 432, which is below the USGS threshold of more than 600 for its significant-earthquake list. The ranking combines magnitude with available Did You Feel It responses and PAGER alert level; it is not a direct measurement of damage.

What the magnitude scale actually measures →

When it happened locally

That is about 01:46 local solar time at the epicentre, in the early hours of the morning.

This event was deeper than 83% of the 153,107 earthquakes recorded in the United States in our catalogue and stronger than 100% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at 52.2220, -169.3270 — 85 km south-southwest of Nikolski. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 4.9 earthquake 1 km east-southeast of here on 02 September 2026.

The nearest other settlements in our records are Dutch Harbor (187 km north-northeast), Atka (187 km southwest) and Nikolski (194 km south-southwest).

Why the 17 km depth matters

At 17 km this was a shallow earthquake. Shallow events release their energy close to the surface, so for a given magnitude they produce noticeably stronger shaking — and more damage — than deeper ones. Roughly three quarters of all earthquakes worldwide occur at shallow depths.

This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can be felt widely and may cause minor local damage. Its shallow focus makes stronger surface shaking more likely than for a deeper event of the same magnitude.

Read more on how focal depth changes what you feel →

What does the tsunami information flag mean?

The USGS event record links to NOAA tsunami information because this was a large event in an oceanic region. That link flag does not mean a tsunami occurred or that a warning is active. Check tsunami.gov and instructions from your local authority for the current status of your coastline.

How earthquakes generate tsunamis, and what the alert levels mean →

Aftershocks and local seismic history

No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre since this event was recorded.

120 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.3 event near Nikolski on 03 September 2026. This M5.3 event released about 32 times less energy than that event.

860 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 136 of them in the past 30 days.

How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →

Where this event sits in the record

This earthquake is part of the September 2026 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in the United States during September 2026. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.

Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre

Other recent earthquakes in the United States

All recorded earthquakes in the United States →

Other magnitude 5 earthquakes worldwide

All magnitude 5 earthquakes →

Questions about this earthquake

How strong was the earthquake near Nikolski?

It measured magnitude 5.3 — a moderate earthquake. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake radiates roughly 1,344 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Nikolski?

The focus was 17 km below the surface, which counts as shallow.

Was the Nikolski earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 5.3 and a focal depth of 17 km, shaking would have been concentrated near the epicentre.

When did the earthquake near Nikolski happen?

03 September 2026 at 13:03 UTC.

Was there a tsunami?

The USGS record carries a link to NOAA tsunami information for this event. That is not a warning: check your regional tsunami warning centre for any live alert.

Have there been aftershocks?

No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre since this event was recorded.

How often do earthquakes happen near Nikolski?

120 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.3 event near Nikolski on 03 September 2026. This M5.3 event released about 32 times less energy than that event.