Recent noteworthy earthquakes in Utah include the significant 5.7 magnitude quake that hit Salt Lake City and its vicinity on March 18, 2020. This was the strongest earthquake in the area since 1992, causing shaking felt as far away as Wyoming and southern Idaho. The epicenter was near Magna, Utah, and the event triggered more than 590 aftershocks within the following days. The earthquake caused power outages affecting around 50,000 customers and temporarily disrupted operations at the Salt Lake City International Airport. It also impacted public health efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the timing of the quake. Additionally, in early September 2025, Utah experienced smaller quakes, including a 4.1 magnitude earthquake in the Uinta Basin near Vernal on September 9, 2025, and other minor quakes (around magnitude 1.6) in early September around Milford and Helper, Utah. Utah is seismically active due to its location near the Wasatch Fault, with a history of moderate to large earthquakes. There is a significant probability that the Wasatch Front area will experience at least one magnitude 6.0 or larger earthquake in the next 50 years. The state is not on a tectonic plate boundary but experiences earthquakes related to plate interactions far west on the Pacific plate margin. Overall, while moderate earthquakes can and do occur in Utah, recent events have mostly caused localized disruptions without severe widespread damage.
