M 3.1 Earthquake Recorded 24 km East of Whittier, Alaska
Areazine synthesizes this USGS earthquake report directly from USGS's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
A minor 3.1 magnitude earthquake occurred near Whittier, Alaska, on March 16, 2026. The shallow tremor was recorded at a depth of 16.6 km.
What this USGS earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by USGS on April 3, 2026 and geographically references Alaska. 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, Alaska.
What Happened
A minor earthquake with a magnitude of 3.1 ml was recorded on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 18:38:44 UTC. The seismic event occurred at a shallow depth of 16.6 km.
Location Details
The earthquake's epicenter was situated at coordinates 60.8°N and 148.248°W. This location is approximately 24 km (15 miles) east of Whittier, Alaska. The depth of 16.6 km classifies this as a shallow earthquake; shallow quakes are typically felt more strongly at the surface than deeper ones.
Impact Assessment
As of the latest report, the USGS has received 1 felt report from the public regarding this event. There is no tsunami advisory, watch, or warning associated with this earthquake. No specific alert level color has been assigned to this routine seismic activity.
What You Should Know
Earthquakes with magnitudes between 2.5 and 3.9 are classified as minor. While they are often felt by people in the immediate vicinity, they rarely cause structural damage. Residents are reminded that aftershocks can occur following seismic activity, though they are generally of lower magnitude than the main event.
Source
Data and attribution provided by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
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