M3.3 earthquake northern Alaska

A magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck in northern Alaska on Sun, Jul 12, 1981, 12:42 AM GMT-10 (10:42 UTC), 33 km (21 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M4.8 northern Alaska. This one was a foreshock.

Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: 6 in the 60 days after this one and 7 in the 30 days before it.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp0001enb. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 10:01 AM UTC.