August 17, 1959 – Hebgen Lake, MT – M 7.5 The Hebgen Lake earthquake—the largest and deadliest earthquake recorded in Montana and the Intermountain West—occurred at 11:37 p.m. (local time) on Monday, August 17, 1959. The epicenter of the magnitude 7.5 earthquake was approximately 15 miles north of West Yellowstone, Montana (later revised by the […]
Read MoreNovember 23, 1947 – Virginia City, MT – M6¼ The Virginia City earthquake was reported felt in several communities in Montana, including: Billings, Missoula, Lewistown, Livingston, Helena, Harlowton, Malta, Havre, Glasgow, Kalispell, and Bozeman; and as far south as Idaho Falls, Idaho. In most areas, the earthquake rocked buildings with, what was described in Helena […]
Read MoreJune 27, 1925 – Clarkston Valley, MT – M 6¾ The Clarkston Valley, Montana earthquake occurred at 6:21 p.m. local time on June 27, 1925. The epicenter was located approximately 8 miles north of Three Forks, MT just north of Yellowstone Park. It was reported felt over nearly two-thirds of the state (approximately 1,000,000 square […]
Read MoreFebruary 15, 1929 – Lombard, MT – M 5.6 On February 15, 1929 at 8:00 p.m. a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred approximately 20 miles north of Manhattan, Montana. The earthquake was reported felt in the Montana cities of Deer Park, Logan, Trident, Toston, Missoula, Great Falls and Anaconda. Dishes rattled and light fixtures swayed in […]
Read MoreOctober 18, 1935 – Helena, MT (series) – M 6¼ October 12, 1935 – Foreshock (M 5.9) This early morning earthquake (12:50 a.m. local time) caused many frightened residents to run from their homes. It was reported that despite the alarm people felt, many maintained a sense of humor about the event as they gathered […]
Read MoreMarch 31, 1952 – Bigfork, MT – M5.5 A magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred in Montana at 5:37 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 1952. The epicenter was located approximately 15 miles east of Bigfork, Montana—a town on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake, Montana. Reports from some individuals on the east shore of Flathead Lake […]
Read MoreSeptember 23, 1943 – Flathead Lake, MT – M 5.5 At 2:57 a.m. on Sunday, September 23, 1945, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred near Lakeside, Montana on the northwest side of Flathead Lake. The earthquake was reported felt in western Montana, northern Idaho and eastern Washington. There were reports of dishes and windows rattling […]
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