US EditionMagnitude 4.2 Earthquake Hits Northeast of Great Falls, Shaking West-Central Montana
- The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 4.2 earthquake on Thursday, January 29, 2026, centered about 7.5 miles northeast of Great Falls near Malmstrom Air Force Base, felt widely across central Montana.
- Montana lies in the intermountain seismic belt, a seismically active region where as many as five earthquakes hit annually, most too small to feel.
- At about 12:41 p.m., the quake struck at a depth of about 6.2 miles, with local residents from Shelby to Helena and communities like Sun Prairie and Polson reporting shaking lasting 10 to 15 seconds.
- With no reported serious damage, officials said there were no early reports of injuries and public safety departments continued monitoring, while the Great Falls Police Department urged people not to use 911 after 73 calls and 10 non-emergency calls within 30 minutes.
- Historic context shows Montana's seismic history includes the 7.3 Hebgen Lake earthquake on August 17, 1959, a strong July 6, 2017 quake, and reports of more than 160 new geysers in Yellowstone National Park.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake strikes Montana near Great Falls
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck Montana, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located near the city of Great Falls. The quake struck at 12:41 p.m. Mountain time at a depth of about 14 miles, according to the USGS. The epicenter was located about 7.4 miles northeast of Great Falls, near Black Horse Lake. More than 700 felt reports have been submitted by users to the USGS website, with most indicating weak t…
Earthquake rattles Great Falls area as officials warn of aftershocks
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that an earthquake with a 4.2 magnitude rattled Cascade County, originating about 7.5 miles northeast of Malmstrom Air Force Base at 12:41 p.m., Thursday. According to a public information statement put out by the National…
Helena Independent Record
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake hits northeast of Great Falls, shaking west-central Montana
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake hit 11 miles northeast of Great Falls at 12:40 p.m. Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed.
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