The May 15, 1954 earthquake

M5.0near Machias, Washington

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake, centred in Snohomish County. The 25th strongest in Washington’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 5.2 on July 17, 1932.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.0; local magnitude (ml)
Depth: —; Not recorded
Local time: Saturday, May 15, 1954; 06:02 PDT; 13:02 UTC
Epicentre: 48.00°N, 122.00°W; In Snohomish County
In Washington’s record: 25th; strongest of 5,002 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 13; counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis1936 (“4 km ENE of Machias, Washington”). The USGS event page carries the ShakeMap, felt reports and the official summary.

Counties and cities within 50 miles

Distance from the epicentre to each county boundary (zero when inside) and to each city centre.

Counties

Snohomish CountyWA · inside
Island CountyWA · 16.4 mi
King CountyWA · 23.9 mi
Kitsap CountyWA · 25.1 mi
Skagit CountyWA · 26.8 mi
Jefferson CountyWA · 29.3 mi
Chelan CountyWA · 38.6 mi
Clallam CountyWA · 42.8 mi
Kittitas CountyWA · 46.7 mi
San Juan CountyWA · 47.4 mi
Pierce CountyWA · 48.5 mi
Mason CountyWA · 49.8 mi
Whatcom CountyWA · 49.9 mi

Cities, largest first

SeattleWA · 30.9 mi
BellevueWA · 28.7 mi
KentWA · 43.3 mi
EverettWA · 9.1 mi
RentonWA · 37.1 mi
KirklandWA · 23.0 mi
AuburnWA · 49.0 mi
RedmondWA · 22.9 mi
MarysvilleWA · 9.0 mi
ShorelineWA · 23.2 mi
SammamishWA · 28.1 mi
BothellWA · 18.3 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

206 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

Earlier earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 50 miles, strongest first

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog. Local time is the time zone of the county nearest the epicentre. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them.