December 26, 2008
Earthquake Swarm Under Yellowstone Lake

An earthquake swarm has been occurring since December 26th, 2008 under Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park. The earthquakes happened 5-9 miles south-southeast of Fishing Bridge, and approximately 73 miles north-northeast of Jackson, Wyoming. The largest earthquake was a 3.4 magnitude event. Reportedly, some of the earthquakes were felt in the Yellowstone Lake area. The U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colorado, the University of Utah Seismic Stations, and the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory reported this earthquake swarm to the Wyoming State Geological Survey.

The WSGS has generated seismological characterizations of all Wyoming counties (see Earthquake Database), which include analyses of historic seismicity as well as projections of possible future earthquakes. For more information, please contact Seth Wittke by phone at (307) 766-2286, ext. 244, or by email at seth.wittke@wyo.gov.

Press Release
from the Office of the Wyoming State Geologist
Ron Surdam, State Geologist