What happened: Starting around midnight on April 12, a swarm of more than 18 earthquakes struck the Juan de Fuca Ridge, roughly 250 miles off the Washington coast. The largest reached magnitude 4.2. Experts say the swarm poses no threat to people on land in the Pacific Northwest, including Everett.
Earthquake Swarm Off Washington Coast: What Everett Residents Need to Know
An active swarm of earthquakes struck far off the Washington coast this weekend, but seismologists say there is no cause for concern for people in Everett or anywhere else on land in the Pacific Northwest.
The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) reported that since around midnight on April 12, more than 18 earthquakes were detected at the Juan de Fuca Ridge — a tectonic spreading center located approximately 250 miles offshore of Washington state. The largest quake in the swarm reached magnitude 4.2.
Why This Is Not a Land Threat
The PNSN was clear in its assessment: the earthquakes are not located anywhere near the Cascadia Subduction Zone — the fault system that scientists watch most closely for potential large earthquake risk to the Pacific Northwest coast.
The quakes are also not at the Axial Seamount Volcano, an undersea volcano that has received attention in recent years due to predictions that it may be nearing an eruption. Axial Seamount eruptions are entirely underwater and do not pose a surface threat.
Earthquake swarms at the Juan de Fuca Ridge are a natural and relatively common occurrence. The ridge is a mid-ocean spreading center where tectonic plates are gradually moving apart — a process that generates seismic activity regularly.
What Is the Juan de Fuca Ridge?
The Juan de Fuca Ridge is an underwater tectonic boundary roughly 250 miles west of the Washington and Oregon coasts. It’s part of the system that also creates the Juan de Fuca Plate — the relatively small tectonic plate that subducts (slides under) the North American Plate along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. However, earthquake activity at the ridge itself, far offshore, does not translate into risk for the Seattle-Everett metro area.
Should Everett Residents Be Concerned?
No. This swarm is a distant, offshore geological event. However, it’s always a reasonable time to review your household earthquake preparedness — the Cascadia Subduction Zone remains a long-term seismic risk for the Pacific Northwest, and preparedness is something every Snohomish County household should maintain regardless of what’s happening offshore.
The Washington Emergency Management Division recommends keeping at least three days of emergency supplies on hand, including water, food, and a first aid kit. Snohomish County’s emergency management resources are available at snohomishcountywa.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions: Washington Earthquake Swarm
Is the earthquake swarm off Washington a threat to Everett?
No. The swarm is approximately 250 miles offshore at the Juan de Fuca Ridge, far from the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Experts at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network say there is no threat to people on land.
How many earthquakes were in the swarm?
More than 18 earthquakes were recorded as of noon on April 12, 2026, with the largest reaching magnitude 4.2.
What is the Juan de Fuca Ridge?
An underwater tectonic spreading center about 250 miles off the Washington coast where the Juan de Fuca Plate and Pacific Plate are gradually moving apart. Seismic activity here is normal and does not indicate risk to coastal communities.
Is this related to the Cascadia Subduction Zone?
No. The PNSN confirmed the quakes are not near the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which is the fault system that poses the main long-term seismic risk to the Pacific Northwest.
Should I update my earthquake preparedness?
It’s always a good idea. The Washington Emergency Management Division recommends keeping at least three days of emergency supplies at home — water, food, flashlight, first aid kit, and important documents.