SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, Feb. 13, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — The U.S. Geological Survey has confirmed that a magnitude 3.5 earthquake hit near West Valley City at 6:32 p.m. Mountain Time.
The quake originated at a depth of 5.4 miles under the surface, and was nearly 2.5 miles north northwest of West Valley City.
Gephardt Daily followers reported feeling the quake in nearby areas including Kearns, Millcreek, Taylorsville, West Jordan, Draper, Millcreek, Murray, Holladay and in Salt Lake City, including the Avenues and the Marmalade District.
Several reported feeling a small rumble or jolt, and at least one reported if felt like a truck hit the building. Initial reports did not mention any damage from the relatively small quake.
This was a small, common earthquake , a Utah Division of Natural Resources news release says.
“While the shaking was felt widely across the Salt Lake Valley and caused a sharp jolt for those near the epicenter, it is important to remember that this was a small earthquake. Seismologists, such as our partners at the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, categorize events of this magnitude as ‘minor,'” the statement says.
“They occur regularly in Utah and typically do not cause structural damage. Because the earthquake was shallow and located beneath the densely populated West Valley City area, the ground shaking can feel alarming.
“However, a magnitude 3.5 earthquake releases significantly less energy than the ‘major’ earthquakes that emergency planners prepare for. This earthquake was approximately 150 times smaller and released 2000 times less energy than the 2020 magnitude 5.7 Magna earthquake many Utahns remember vividly.
“It’s also important to remember that the 2020 Magna earthquake was not ‘the big one.’ The Wasatch fault zone is capable of generating larger earthquakes.”
The agency suggests Utah residents use the minor quake as a reminder to prepare emergency response kits for potential larger quakes in the future.
