Magnitude 4.3 Earthquake Shakes Northeastern Oregon

A moderate quake struck Wallowa National Forest late Monday night, with shaking reported as far as southeast Washington.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Geology

Photograph of a rugged conifer-covered ridgeline with granite outcrops under clear daylight in northeastern Oregon's mountains. — A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck northeastern Oregon's Wallowa National Forest late Monday, shaking residents as far as southeast Washington. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck northeastern Oregon's Wallowa National Forest at around 11:42 p.m. Monday. Light shaking was also felt across parts of southeast Washington.

Why it matters

The quake was shallow, with its epicenter about 1.5 miles deep, and was felt widely enough to prompt residents across Oregon and Washington to report it. Earthquakes of this size are typically felt over a broad area but rarely cause significant damage.

Felt reports from more than 60 residents, as tallied by the USGS as of 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, indicate the quake was widely noticed for its size. The quake registered at magnitude 4.3, below the 5.0 level associated with significant damage, and its shallow depth of about 1.5 miles was recorded by the agency.

The players

United States Geological Survey

The USGS is the federal science agency that monitors earthquakes and publishes official magnitude, location and depth data for the United States.

The details

The earthquake struck about 12 miles east-southeast of Joseph, Oregon, within the Wallowa National Forest. The United States Geological Survey reported the location and depth, and residents submitted felt reports online.

Monday, around 11:42 p.m.: Magnitude 4.3 earthquake strikes Wallowa National Forest area.
Tuesday, 6:45 a.m.: More than 60 people had reported feeling the shaking.

Seismic Monitoring

Oregon sits within the Cascadia subduction zone, where the USGS continuously tracks seismic activity through its national network. Moderate quakes like this one are recorded and cataloged through the same felt-report system the agency uses across the Pacific Northwest.

Residents who felt the shaking can submit a report to the USGS to help map the quake's reach. No evacuation or emergency advisory is referenced in the extraction, so no further action is indicated.

The takeaway

Felt reports from ordinary residents help scientists map how far a quake's shaking travels, so reporting what you feel is a useful contribution even for small events.