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Earthquakes · Montana
Was that an earthquake in Montana?
Latest earthquakes in Montana, live from the USGS
No earthquakes of magnitude 1 or more were recorded in Montana in the last 24 hours, as of 8:00 a.m. MST.
Strongest in the last 12 months: M4.2, 9 km N of Black Eagle, Montana, Jan 29.
Gold dots are the last 24 hours. Rows marked "auto" are first, automatic solutions; the USGS revises them, often within the hour.
Last 24 hours, magnitude 1 and up
None in Montana in the last 24 hours.
Last 7 days, magnitude 2.5 and up
None in the last 7 days.
Last 30 days, magnitude 2.5 and up
None in the last 30 days.
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Did we just have an earthquake near me?
Check the list at the top of this page. It reads the U.S. Geological Survey's live feed every few minutes. Automatic locations for most US quakes appear within minutes, and small or remote ones can take longer. If you felt shaking that isn't listed yet, wait a few minutes and refresh, or report it to the USGS "Did You Feel It?" survey.
The last 12 months
25 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in Montana in the last 12 months. The largest was M4.2, 9 km N of Black Eagle, Montana, on Jan 29. The busiest week began Jan 24, with 4 quakes.
Biggest earthquakes in Montana
The five largest of the last 50 years in the USGS catalogue.
Why does Montana get earthquakes?
Western Montana lies in the Intermountain Seismic Belt and is one of the most active places in the country away from the Pacific coast. Small quakes are common around Helena, in the Flathead region and in the southwest near Yellowstone National Park. Most come from normal faults, where the crust is being pulled apart.
The largest in the state's record, the M7.3 Hebgen Lake earthquake of 17 August 1959, set off a landslide that buried a campground, killed 28 people and dammed the Madison River to form Quake Lake. Helena was damaged by a series of quakes in 1935, and the M5.8 near Lincoln on 6 July 2017 was the strongest in the state since 1959.
Last reviewed 4 November 2026. Sources: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology.
What magnitude earthquake can you feel?
People close to the epicentre often feel quakes from about magnitude 2.5 to 3, especially indoors on upper floors. Below that, most go unnoticed. How strong it feels depends on distance, depth and the ground under you, so a shallow M3 nearby can feel stronger than a deep M4 farther away.
How long do aftershocks last?
Aftershocks are most frequent in the first hours and days after a quake and then fade, though after a large one they can go on for months or even years. Most are smaller than the main shock, but a damaging one is possible. For significant US quakes, the USGS publishes an aftershock forecast with the chances for the coming days and weeks.
What should I do during an earthquake?
Drop, cover and hold on: get down on your hands and knees, cover your head and neck under a sturdy table, and hold on until the shaking stops. If you're in bed, stay there and protect your head with a pillow. Don't run outside during shaking, and keep away from windows. Doorways aren't safer in most modern homes. See Ready.gov and the Earthquake Country Alliance for more.
Can earthquakes be predicted?
No. Scientists can't predict the time, place and size of a particular earthquake. They can estimate the chance of a large quake in a region over decades, which is how building codes and insurance are set. On the West Coast, the ShakeAlert system can give seconds of warning once a quake has started, but that's detection, not prediction.
Nearby
Other hazards in Montana
How this page works
The lists read the U.S. Geological Survey's real-time feeds: every quake of the past day and every quake of magnitude 2.5 or more of the past month, refreshed every few minutes. The 12-month history and the 50-year list come from the USGS earthquake catalogue (ComCat), read once a day and once a week. A quake counts here when the USGS names Montana as its place, offshore quakes included.
First magnitudes and locations are automatic and are often revised within hours; rows marked "auto" haven't been reviewed by a seismologist yet. Felt reports are the number of "Did You Feel It?" responses the USGS has so far. Times are local (America/Denver).
Gods Eyes is not an early warning system and is not affiliated with any government agency. In an emergency, follow local officials and call 911.
Earthquakes: data courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey · Map and place names: Natural Earth (public domain). All data sources.