A magnitude 4.2 earthquake was reported near Great Falls, Montana, on Thursday, January 29, 2026, and was widely felt but does not appear to have caused significant damage or injuries.

Earthquake Great Falls MT – Quick Scoop

What happened?

  • A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck near Great Falls, Montana, around 12:41 p.m. local time on January 29, 2026.
  • The epicenter was reported roughly 7–8 miles north‑northeast of Malmstrom Air Force Base / near Black Eagle, in Cascade County.
  • The quake was relatively shallow (about 12 km / 6–7 miles deep), which helped the shaking be felt over a wider area.

Where was it felt?

Reports and seismic estimates indicate shaking across central Montana:

  • Strongest, “light” shaking: areas close to the epicenter such as Sidney and communities within about 10–15 miles.
  • “Weak” shaking: Black Eagle, Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, Sun Prairie, Fort Benton (about 15–23 miles out).
  • “Very weak” shaking: more distant towns like Conrad and Choteau, roughly up to 50 miles from the epicenter.

So, if you were anywhere in the Great Falls area mid‑day Thursday, it would have been very normal to feel a quick jolt or rolling motion and then see it all over local news and social posts.

Damage, injuries, and safety

  • As of the latest reports, there are no confirmed injuries or major damage linked to this event.
  • A 4.2 quake is generally considered minor: it can rattle windows, sway hanging objects, and give a noticeable jolt, but serious structural damage is uncommon, especially in modern buildings.

If you’re in or near Great Falls, it’s still smart to:

  1. Check your home or workplace for:
    • Cracks in walls or foundations
    • Items that may have fallen from shelves
  2. Review basic safety:
    • Know “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”
    • Identify sturdy tables/desks away from windows
  3. Make or update a small emergency kit:
    • Water, flashlight, batteries, basic first‑aid, essential meds

These are standard precautions in any area that experiences occasional quakes, even if they are usually small.

How unusual is this for Great Falls?

  • Montana is one of the more seismically active states in the northern Rockies, though it doesn’t see nearly as many quakes as places like California.
  • Records of recent regional quakes (within the past couple of years) show several small‑to‑moderate events (generally in the magnitude 2–4 range) in western and central Montana.
  • A 4.2 near Great Falls is noticeable and news‑worthy, but not outside the broad pattern of regional seismicity for the state.

Think of it as a “wake‑up” reminder that Montana does sit in an active tectonic region, even if big destructive quakes are rare.

Media and online buzz

  • Local and regional outlets, including NBC Montana and other news sites, covered the quake, emphasizing the 4.2 magnitude, the time (around midday), and the location near Great Falls / Malmstrom AFB.
  • Social and forum chatter has focused on:
    • People describing how long the shaking lasted (usually just a few seconds).
    • Confusion at first over whether it was construction, an explosion, or a quake.
    • Questions about whether it’s a “foreshock” to something larger (there is no current evidence of a larger imminent event, which is typical for quakes of this size).

“Did anyone else feel their couch just jump in Great Falls?” – this type of comment has been common in community posts and local discussion threads.

Quick fact table

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Item Details
Location Near Great Falls, MT, about 7–8 miles NNE of Malmstrom AFB / near Black Eagle
Date & Time Thursday, January 29, 2026, ~12:41 p.m. local time
Magnitude 4.2 (USGS estimate)
Depth ~12 km / ~6–7 miles (shallow)
Areas with strongest reports Sidney and communities within ~10–15 miles; weak shaking in Great Falls, Black Eagle, Malmstrom AFB, Fort Benton
Damage / injuries No major damage or injuries reported as of latest updates

If you’re looking for live updates

For the freshest technical details (including any tiny aftershocks), you can:

  • Check the USGS interactive earthquake map (filter around Great Falls / Cascade County).
  • Look at specialized tracking sites that pull directly from USGS feeds for “Great Falls Montana recent earthquakes.”

Both will show if any additional small quakes have occurred since the main 4.2 event. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.