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Map of seismic hazard in Texas as of 2014, as determined using the peak ground acceleration with 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years

Earthquakes intense enough to be perceptible occur annually in the U.S. state of Texas. Most earthquakes in the state have been small or have produced minimal impacts. No earthquake-related fatalities have been reported in the state, though one earthquake in Texas caused a death in the neighboring Mexican state of Chihuahua in 1923. The earliest recorded earthquake in Texas occurred near Seguin and New Braunfels on February 13, 1847.[1] Information on the intensities of early Texas earthquakes mainly arose from reports of personal experiences; more seismograph stations were installed in Texas after around 1970.[2] In the 20th century, over 100 earthquakes strong enough to be felt occurred in the state, with epicenters in 40 Texas counties.[3]: 37  While many earthquakes in Texas have natural origins, many have been induced from the waste disposal of petroleum extraction, previously believed to be the byproduct of hydraulic fracturing ,beginning with the Texas oil boom of the early 20th century. The average number of earthquakes per year with magnitudes greater than 3 increased from roughly 2 to 12 between 2008 and 2016.[2]

The regions within the state with the greatest seismic hazard include West Texas, the Texas Panhandle, North Texas, and South Central Texas. Among these areas, West Texas experiences the strongest and most frequent earthquakes, with El Paso featuring the greatest risk from earthquakes among sizable urban areas in Texas.[3]: 18–19  There are several geologic features in West Texas of interest to seismology, including the Central Basin Platform, the Hueco Bolson, and the Marathon Uplift.[3]: 20–23  Several faultlines are also located in West Texas. The strongest and most destructive earthquake in state history was the 1931 Valentine earthquake,[3]: 20  which had an estimated magnitude of mb 5.6–6.4.[4]: 1171  The second strongest earthquake in Texas history also occurred in West Texas, registering as a magnitude 5.7 tremor near Alpine in 1995.[1]

The Texas Panhandle exhibits the second highest seismic risk among regions in the state. The earthquakes in this area primarily occur on buried faults between the Amarillo Uplift and the Anadarko Basin.[3]: 24  An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5–6.0 is expected to occur every 50–100 years in the Texas Panhandle, while an earthquake with a magnitude greater than 6.0 is expected to occur every 300 years.[5] The strongest earthquake in this region was a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that occurred in 1925.[5][6] Some of the seismic activity in the Texas Panhandle may be caused or influenced by the extraction of petroleum.[3]: 27 [5] The northern and northeastern parts of Texas, including the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, are another region of seismic risk. Though the area does experience some minor earthquakes, including induced earthquakes naturally-occurring tremors potentially along buried faults, shaking from distant earthquakes presents the primary seismic hazard for the region.[3]: 29–31  Some earthquakes of mostly minor strength also occur in South Central Texas and the Texas Coastal Plain. Some of these earthquakes may be associated with geological features produced by the Ouachita orogeny, and many have been attributed to petroleum production.[3]: 32–34 

Notable earthquakes

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List of earthquakes in Texas is located in Texas
Valentine earthquake
Valentine earthquake
Marathon earthquake
Marathon earthquake
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
List of earthquakes in Texas
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Earthquakes in Texas (magnitude 4.5+)
Date and time (UTC) Location Epicenter Mag. MMI Depth Notes Casualties Ref
Dead Injured
August 16, 1931
11:40:22 		Presidio County 30°30′07″N 104°34′30″W / 30.502°N 104.575°W / 30.502; -104.575 (1931-08-16) 5.8 mbLg MMI VIII (Severe) 1.0 km (0.62 mi) All buildings in Valentine aside from wood-frame houses were damaged. Property damage was reported in Brewster, Culberson, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties with landslides triggered as far as the Big Bend of Texas. — — [7]
April 14, 1995
00:32:56 		Brewster County 30°23′06″N 103°20′49″W / 30.385°N 103.347°W / 30.385; -103.347 (1995-04-14) 5.7 Mw MMI VII (Very strong) 17.8 km (11.1 mi) Slight damage occurred in Alpine and Fort Davis. Two people suffered minor injuries in Brewster County. Shaking was felt as far east as the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and San Antonio. — 2 [8]
November 16, 2022
21:32:44 		Reeves County 31°38′13″N 103°59′56″W / 31.637°N 103.999°W / 31.637; -103.999 (2022-11-16) 5.4 ML MMI VII (Very strong) 6.9 km (4.3 mi) Possibly the mainshock of a sequence of 881 earthquakes. — — [9]
November 8, 2023
10:27:49 		Reeves County 31°37′19″N 103°58′55″W / 31.622°N 103.982°W / 31.622; -103.982 (2023-11-08) 5.2 ML MMI VII (Very strong) 7.4 km (4.6 mi) Possibly the mainshock of a sequence of 278 earthquakes. — — [10]
December 16, 2022
23:35:27 		Martin County 32°11′28″N 102°08′28″W / 32.191°N 102.141°W / 32.191; -102.141 (2022-12-16) 5.2 ML MMI VI (Strong) 8.2 km (5.1 mi) — — [11]
July 26, 2024
14:28:29 		Fisher County 32°45′50″N 100°39′32″W / 32.764°N 100.659°W / 32.764; -100.659 (2024-07-26) 5.1 ML MMI VI (Strong) 3.2 km (2.0 mi) Possibly the mainshock of a sequence of 69 earthquakes. — — [12]
September 17, 2024
00:49:42 		Martin County 32°24′40″N 102°03′32″W / 32.411°N 102.059°W / 32.411; -102.059 (2024-09-17) 5.1 ML MMI V (Moderate) 7.9 km (4.9 mi) Possibly the mainshock of a sequence of 50 earthquakes. — — [13]
March 26, 2020
15:16:27 		Reeves County 31°43′01″N 104°02′31″W / 31.717°N 104.042°W / 31.717; -104.042 (2020-03-26) 5.0 Mww MMI V (Moderate) 9.5 km (5.9 mi) Research published in Geophysical Research Letters in December 2020 concluded that stress introduced by wastewater injection likely triggered the earthquake. — — [14][15]
July 30, 1925
12:17:00 		Carson County 35°24′00″N 101°18′00″W / 35.400°N 101.300°W / 35.400; -101.300 (1925-07-30) 4.9 Mfa MMI VI (Strong) — The earthquake was the strongest on record in the Texas Panhandle and caused minor damage. — — [6][3]: 140–144 
July 23, 2024
03:38:42 		Fisher County 32°45′58″N 100°39′32″W / 32.766°N 100.659°W / 32.766; -100.659 (2024-07-23) 4.9 ML MMI V (Moderate) 3.2 km (2.0 mi) — — [16]
July 21, 2022
13:35:58 		Culberson County 31°40′48″N 104°25′16″W / 31.680°N 104.421°W / 31.680; -104.421 (2022-07-21) 4.9 ML MMI V (Moderate) 5.9 km (3.7 mi) — — [17]
October 20, 2011
12:24:41 		Karnes County 28°51′54″N 98°04′44″W / 28.865°N 98.079°W / 28.865; -98.079 (2011-10-20) 4.8 Mwr MMI VI (Strong) 5.0 km (3.1 mi) Felt throughout South Central Texas and South Texas. — — [18]
May 17, 2012
08:12:00 		Shelby County 31°55′34″N 94°22′08″W / 31.926°N 94.369°W / 31.926; -94.369 (2012-05-17) 4.8 Mwr MMI V (Moderate) 5.0 km (3.1 mi) — — [19]
August 1, 1975
07:27:57 		Reeves County 31°25′30″N 104°00′43″W / 31.425°N 104.012°W / 31.425; -104.012 (1975-08-01) 4.8 mb — 5.0 km (3.1 mi) — — [20]
February 17, 2024
06:32:54 		Karnes County 28°57′14″N 98°00′04″W / 28.954°N 98.001°W / 28.954; -98.001 (2024-02-17) 4.7 ML MMI VI (Strong) 6.8 km (4.2 mi) — — [21]
February 16, 2023
10:29:04 		Scurry County 32°44′46″N 100°39′32″W / 32.746°N 100.659°W / 32.746; -100.659 (2023-02-16) 4.7 ML MMI V (Moderate) 7.8 km (4.8 mi) — — [22]
November 24, 2022
19:19:28 		Reeves County 31°37′37″N 104°00′11″W / 31.627°N 104.003°W / 31.627; -104.003 (2022-11-24-mentone) 4.7 ML MMI V (Moderate) 8.5 km (5.3 mi) — — [23]
June 1, 2022
15:46:10 		Culberson County 31°42′54″N 104°33′04″W / 31.715°N 104.551°W / 31.715; -104.551 (2022-06-01) 4.6 ML MMI V (Moderate) 6.2 km (3.9 mi) — — [24]
March 25, 2022
03:01:58 		Culberson County 31°40′08″N 104°25′12″W / 31.669°N 104.420°W / 31.669; -104.420 (2022-03-25) 4.6 ML MMI V (Moderate) 6.8 km (4.2 mi) — — [25]
December 28, 2021
01:55:43 		Martin County 32°17′10″N 101°46′26″W / 32.286°N 101.774°W / 32.286; -101.774 (2021-12-28) 4.6 ML MMI V (Moderate) 8.4 km (5.2 mi) — — [26]
March 12, 1948
04:29:06 		Dallam County 36°13′16″N 102°28′41″W / 36.221°N 102.478°W / 36.221; -102.478 (1948-03-12) 4.5 Mfa MMI VI (Strong) 5.0 km (3.1 mi) Minor damage was reported in the Texas Panhandle. — — [27][28][3]: 166–168 
July 27, 2024
21:08:31 		Scurry County 32°44′38″N 100°41′46″W / 32.744°N 100.696°W / 32.744; -100.696 (2024-07-27) 4.5 ML MMI V (Moderate) 3.4 km (2.1 mi) — — [29]
November 24, 2022
19:14:19 		Reeves County 31°38′02″N 103°59′17″W / 31.634°N 103.988°W / 31.634; -103.988 (2022-11-24-westerntexas) 4.5 ML MMI V (Moderate) 7.4 km (4.6 mi) — — [30]
August 11, 2022
07:17:16 		Culberson County 31°40′59″N 104°25′30″W / 31.683°N 104.425°W / 31.683; -104.425 (2022-08-11) 4.5 ML MMI V (Moderate) 6.6 km (4.1 mi) — — [31]
March 17, 2021
04:19:28 		Culberson County 31°39′14″N 104°21′25″W / 31.654°N 104.357°W / 31.654; -104.357 (2021-03-17) 4.5 ML MMI V (Moderate) 6.2 km (3.9 mi) — — [32]
February 15, 1974
13:33:49 		Ochiltree County 36°30′00″N 100°41′35″W / 36.500°N 100.693°W / 36.500; -100.693 (1974-02-15) 4.5 mb MMI V (Moderate) 24.0 km (14.9 mi) Damage to the plaster walls of buildings occurred in Oklahoma and Kansas. — — [33][3]: 197–198 

References

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  1. ^ a b Murr, Erika (September 1, 1995) [1976]. "Earthquakes". The Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Frohlich, Cliff; DeShon, Heather; Stump, Brian; Hayward, Chris; Hornbach, Matt; Walter, Jacob I. (July 2016). "A Historical Review of Induced Earthquakes in Texas". Seismological Research Letters. 87 (4): 1022–1038. Bibcode:2016SeiRL..87.1022F. doi:10.1785/0220160016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Frolich, Cliff; Davis, Scott D. (2002). Texas Earthquakes. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-292-72550-7.
  4. ^ Dumas, David B.; Dorman, H. James; Latham, Gary V. (August 1980). "A reevaluation of the August 16, 1931 Texas earthquake". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 70 (4): 1171–1180. doi:10.1785/BSSA0700041171 (inactive 1 November 2024).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  5. ^ a b c "Texas Panhandle Earthquakes" (PDF). Amarillo, Texas: National Weather Service Amarillo, Texas. August 16, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "M 4.9 – 9 km NE of Panhandle, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  7. ^ "M 5.8 – 12 km SW of Valentine, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "M 5.7 – 13 km NW of Marathon, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "M 5.4 – Coalson Draw, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  10. ^ "M 5.2 – Coalson Draw, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "M 5.2 – Range Hill, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "M 5.1 – 17 km NNE of Hermleigh, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "M 5.1 – 34 km WSW of Ackerly, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  14. ^ "M 5.0 – 41 km W of Mentone, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  15. ^ Tung, Sui; Zhai, Guang; Shirzaei, Manoochehr (December 28, 2020). "Potential Link Between 2020 Mentone, West Texas M5 Earthquake and Nearby Wastewater Injection: Implications for Aquifer Mechanical Properties". Geophysical Research Letters. 48 (3). doi:10.1029/2020GL090551. hdl:10919/103345.
  16. ^ "M 4.9 – 17 km NNE of Hermleigh, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "M 4.9 – 55 km S of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "M 4.8 – 14 km SSW of Falls City, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "M 4.8 – 3 km NE of Timpson, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  20. ^ "M 4.8 – 24 km WNW of Toyah, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  21. ^ "M 4.7 – 3 km SSE of Falls City, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  22. ^ "M 4.7 – 15 km NE of Hermleigh, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  23. ^ "M 4.7 – 34 km WSW of Mentone, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  24. ^ "M 4.6 – 53 km SSW of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "M 4.6 – 56 km S of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  26. ^ "M 4.6 – 17 km N of Stanton, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  27. ^ "M 4.5 – 18 km N of Dalhart, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  28. ^ "Earthquakes in Texas". Texas Almanac. 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  29. ^ "M 4.5 – 13 km NNE of Hermleigh, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  30. ^ "M 4.5 – western Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  31. ^ "M 4.5 – 54 km S of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  32. ^ "M 4.5 – 57 km S of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  33. ^ "M 4.5 – 14 km NE of Perryton, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
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