Earthquake Risk in North Carolina
North Carolina has low seismic risk, concentrated in the western mountains near the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone. The state has experienced several notable earthquakes including a M5.1 near Skyland in 1916. The Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions have very low hazard.
The largest earthquake recorded in North Carolina was a magnitude 5.1 4 km SE of Sparta, North Carolina on August 9, 2020. North Carolina has 8 notable earthquakes on record since 2004, with the most recent being a M4.1 on May 10, 2025.
Notable Earthquakes
8
Recorded in or near North Carolina (since 2004)
Largest Earthquake
M5.1
4 km SE of Sparta, North Carolina (Aug 2020)
Most Recent
M4.1
May 10, 2025
Notable Earthquakes
Significant earthquakes recorded in or near this state.
| Magnitude | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.1 | 4 km SE of Sparta, North Carolina | 4.1 km | Aug 9, 2020 |
| M4.1 | 21 km SE of Greenback, Tennessee | 25.4 km | May 10, 2025 |
| M4.1 | 12 km ENE of Parksville, South Carolina | 5.2 km | Feb 15, 2014 |
| M3.8 | 2 km NE of Fincastle, Tennessee | 34.8 km | Jan 20, 2020 |
| M3.7 | 3 km ESE of Hot Springs, North Carolina | 7.9 km | Aug 25, 2005 |
| M3.7 | 7 km W of Rowland, North Carolina | 5.0 km | Sep 25, 2006 |
| M3.6 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | 2.8 km | Jun 29, 2022 |
| M3.5 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | 2.7 km | Jun 29, 2022 |
Cities in North Carolina
Explore More
All States
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming