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. 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 earthquake risk among sizable urban areas in Texas.[1]: 18–19 

Notable earthquakes

Date Location Coordinates Depth Mag. MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
1931-08-16 12 km (7.5 mi) SW of Valentine 30°30′07″N 104°34′30″W / 30.502°N 104.575°W / 30.502; -104.575 (1931-08-16) 1 km (0.62 mi) 5.8 mbLg VIII (Severe) 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.[2] — —
1995-04-14 13 km (8.1 mi) NW of Marathon 30°23′06″N 103°20′49″W / 30.385°N 103.347°W / 30.385; -103.347 (1995-04-14) 17.8 km (11.1 mi) 5.7 MW VII (Very strong) 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.[3] — 2
2022-11-16 Coalson Draw 31°38′13″N 103°59′56″W / 31.637°N 103.999°W / 31.637; -103.999 (2022-11-16) 6.9 km (4.3 mi) 5.4 ML VII (Very strong) Possibly the main shock of a sequence of 881 earthquakes.[4] — —
2023-11-08 Coalson Draw 31°37′19″N 103°58′55″W / 31.622°N 103.982°W / 31.622; -103.982 (2023-11-08) 7.4 km (4.6 mi) 5.2 ML VII (Very strong) Potentially the main shock of a sequence of 278 earthquakes.[5] — —
2022-12-16 Range Hill 32°11′28″N 102°08′28″W / 32.191°N 102.141°W / 32.191; -102.141 (2022-12-16) 8.2 km (5.1 mi) 5.2 ML VI (Strong) [6] — —
2020-03-26 41 km (25 mi) W of Mentone 31°43′01″N 104°02′31″W / 31.717°N 104.042°W / 31.717; -104.042 (2020-03-26) 9.5 km (5.9 mi) 5.0 MW V (Moderate) Research published in Geophysical Research Letters in December 2020 concluded that stress introduced by wastewater injection likely triggered the earthquake.[7][8] — —
1925-07-30 9 km (5.6 mi) E of Panhandle 35°24′00″N 101°18′00″W / 35.400°N 101.300°W / 35.400; -101.300 (1925-07-30) — 4.9 Mfa — [9] — —
2011-10-20 14 km (8.7 mi) SSW of Falls City 28°51′54″N 98°04′44″W / 28.865°N 98.079°W / 28.865; -98.079 (2011-10-20) 5 km (3.1 mi) 4.8 MW VI (Strong) Felt throughout South Central Texas and South Texas.[10] — —
2012-05-17 3 km (1.9 mi) NE of Timpson 31°55′34″N 94°22′08″W / 31.926°N 94.369°W / 31.926; -94.369 (2012-05-17) 5 km (3.1 mi) 4.8 MW VI (Strong) [11] — —
1975-08-01 24 km (15 mi) WNW of Toyah 31°25′30″N 104°00′43″W / 31.425°N 104.012°W / 31.425; -104.012 (1975-08-01) 5 km (3.1 mi) 4.8 mb — [12] — —
2023-02-16 15 km (9.3 mi) NE of Hermleigh 32°44′46″N 100°39′32″W / 32.746°N 100.659°W / 32.746; -100.659 (2023-02-16) 7.8 km (4.8 mi) 4.7 ML VI (Strong) [13] — —
2022-11-24 34 km (21 mi) WSW of Mentone 31°37′37″N 104°00′11″W / 31.627°N 104.003°W / 31.627; -104.003 (2022-11-24) 8.5 km (5.3 mi) 4.7 ML V (Moderate) [14] — —
2021-12-28 17 km (11 mi) N of Stanton 32°17′10″N 101°46′26″W / 32.286°N 101.774°W / 32.286; -101.774 (2021-12-28) 8.4 km (5.2 mi) 4.6 ML V (Moderate) [15] — —
2022-11-24 West Texas 31°38′02″N 103°59′17″W / 31.634°N 103.988°W / 31.634; -103.988 (2022-11-24) 7.4 km (4.6 mi) 4.5 ML V (Moderate) [16] — —
1974-02-15 14 km (8.7 mi) NE of Perryton 36°30′00″N 100°41′35″W / 36.500°N 100.693°W / 36.500; -100.693 (1974-02-15) 24 km (15 mi) 4.5 mb V (Moderate) [17] — —
1948-03-12 18 km (11 mi) N of Dalhart 36°13′16″N 102°28′41″W / 36.221°N 102.478°W / 36.221; -102.478 (1948-03-12) 5 km (3.1 mi) 4.5 Mfa — [18] — —

References

  1. ↑ Frolich, Cliff; Davis, Scott D. (2002). Texas Earthquakes. Ausitn, Texas: University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-292-72550-7.
  2. ↑ "M 5.8 - 12 km SW of Valentine, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ "M 5.7 - 13 km NW of Marathon, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ "M 5.4 - Coalson Draw, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ "M 5.2 - Coalson Draw, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  6. ↑ "M 5.2 - Range Hill, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  7. ↑ "M 5.0 - 41 km W of Mentone, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "M 4.9 - 9 km NE of Panhandle, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  10. ↑ "M 4.8 - 14 km SSW of Falls City, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ "M 4.8 - 3 km NE of Timpson, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ "M 4.8 - 24 km WNW of Toyah, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  13. ↑ "M 4.7 - 15 km NE of Hermleigh, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  14. ↑ "M 4.7 - 34 km WSW of Mentone, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ "M 4.6 - 17 km N of Stanton, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  16. ↑ "M 4.5 - western Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  17. ↑ "M 4.5 - 14 km NE of Perryton, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  18. ↑ "M 4.5 - 14 km NE of Perryton, Texas". Earthquake Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
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