Utah Records 289 Earthquakes in Two Weeks

Most of the activity clustered in a Milford-area swarm linked to ongoing geothermal development, while 62 quakes were unrelated.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Geology

Photograph of a weathered steel seismic monitoring post on a flat, dry Utah desert basin under low morning light, with distant mountain ridges and faint geothermal infrastructure on the horizon. — University of Utah seismographs recorded 289 earthquakes across the state in two weeks, with 227 clustered in a swarm near Milford tied to geothermal development. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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University of Utah Seismograph Stations recorded 289 earthquakes across the Utah region over a two-week span. Magnitudes ranged from -0.2 to 3.3, with 227 of the events occurring in a swarm near Milford.

Why it matters

The Milford-area swarm is tied to an ongoing Enhanced Geothermal Systems development, linking regional seismic activity to energy research in the state. Residents across Utah are tracking how such activity compares with the state's historical seismic baseline.

The University of Utah Seismograph Stations logged 289 events, more than double the state's average of 126 for a two-week period. The largest was a 3.3 magnitude quake near Beaver on October 30, and 60% of the Milford-area events measured below 1.5.

The players

University of Utah Seismograph Stations

A research facility at the University of Utah that monitors and records seismic activity across the state and region.

Utah FORGE

A dedicated underground field laboratory in Milford sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy to test enhanced geothermal technology.

The details

Of the 289 earthquakes, 227 occurred in the Milford area, with magnitudes between 0.2 and 3.1. The remaining 62 were not associated with the Milford swarm, and the source does not identify their locations or causes in detail.

October 30: A 3.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Beaver.
Two weeks before publication: The 289 earthquakes were recorded across Utah.
Since 1847: Utah has recorded 17 earthquakes above 5.5 magnitude.

The Big Picture

The swarm is occurring in the same Milford area as Utah FORGE, the Department of Energy's Enhanced Geothermal Systems laboratory, which is testing how engineered reservoirs respond to fluid injection. The 227 events show how closely that development is tied to the region's seismic record.

Utah residents living near geothermal development areas may notice how seismic monitoring is used to track subsurface activity. Understanding swarm patterns can help the public tell routine low-magnitude events from those requiring closer attention.

The takeaway

Most quakes in this period were minor, with 60% of the Milford events below 1.5 magnitude. Tracking swarms like this one helps distinguish routine activity from events that merit closer monitoring.