M 3.2 Earthquake Off the Coast of Washington
Areazine synthesizes this NRCan earthquake report directly from USGS's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Washington at a depth of 10 kilometers on March 15, 2026, at 2:24 PM UTC.
What this NRCan earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by USGS on April 12, 2026 and geographically references off the coast of Washington. Its severity classification of "low" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Earthquakes - determines the monitoring protocol behind it, which shapes what follow-up action (checking for structural damage, watching for aftershocks, reviewing local building codes) is relevant and which agency holds authority over the assessment.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are earthquake, seismic, usgs, Washington Coast.
What Happened
A magnitude 3.2 ml earthquake occurred off the coast of Washington on March 15, 2026, at 2:24 PM UTC. It happened at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Location Details
The earthquake was located off the coast of Washington, with coordinates at 47.3886 latitude and -129.0666 longitude. At a depth of 10 kilometers, it is considered a shallow earthquake, which typically means it could produce stronger shaking near the epicenter compared to deeper events.
Impact Assessment
There are no felt reports available for this event. No tsunami advisory has been issued, and no alert level was specified.
What You Should Know
This minor earthquake, with a magnitude of 3.2, is often felt but rarely causes damage. It is possible for aftershocks to occur, and general safety tips include staying informed and knowing to drop, cover, and hold on if shaking is felt.
Source
Data from USGS: [https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000spi8]
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
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