Small magnitude 3.7 quake hits 33 miles southwest of Wales, Alaska, United States early morning

A shallow magnitude 3.7 earthquake was reported early morning near Wales, Nome, Alaska, USA.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake hit on Wednesday, May 20th, 2026, at 5:04 am local time at a shallow depth of 18 miles. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
Our monitoring service identified a second report from The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) which listed the quake at magnitude 3.7 as well. A third agency, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), reported the same quake at magnitude 3.7.
Towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Wales (pop. 150) located 33 miles from the epicenter. In Diomede (pop. 120, 42 miles away), and Port Clarence (pop. 24, 51 miles away), the quake was probably not felt.


Earthquake data:
Date & time: May 20, 2026 05:04 am (GMT -8) local time (20 May 2026 13:04 GMT)
Magnitude: 3.7
Depth: 28.40 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 65.17°N / 168.58°W (Alaska, United States)
Primary data source: USGS
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquake/news/303009/Small-magnitude-37-quake-hits-33-miles-southwest-of-Wales-Alaska-United-States-early-morning-.html