M 3.3 Earthquake Strikes Near McCarthy, 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 3.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded 48 km southwest of McCarthy, Alaska, on March 20, 2026. The shallow seismic event occurred at a depth of 7.1 kilometers.
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 3.3 ml occurred on March 20, 2026, at 14:59:04 UTC. The event was centered approximately 48 km southwest of McCarthy, Alaska. The earthquake was recorded by the USGS and has been reviewed by seismologists.
Location Details
The seismic activity was located at coordinates 61.13°N and 143.565°W. The earthquake originated at a depth of 7.1 km. This is classified as a shallow earthquake, as it occurred less than 20 km below the Earth's surface. Shallow quakes are typically more noticeable to those nearby than deeper events of the same magnitude.
Impact Assessment
According to the USGS data, the event reached a maximum estimated intensity of MMI 3.43. There were no immediate reports of the earthquake being felt by the public at the time of the report, and no tsunami advisory, watch, or warning was issued. No alert level color was assigned to this routine seismic event.
What You Should Know
Earthquakes with magnitudes between 2.5 and 3.9 are categorized as minor. While these events are often felt by residents near the epicenter, they rarely cause any structural damage. Residents in the region should be aware that aftershocks are possible following any seismic event, though they are generally smaller in magnitude than the initial quake.
Source
Data and attribution for this report are provided by the USGS.
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
Related Earthquakes
All Earthquakes →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this USGS earthquake report.