Jan. 21, 2026, Union Hill-Novelty Hill — A small earthquake rattled the Redmond area Wednesday night and was later revised to magnitude 3.0, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The agency logged the event at 8:22 p.m. on Jan. 21, placing the epicenter about one mile south-southeast of Union Hill–Novelty Hill, roughly six kilometers from Sammamish. No injuries or damage were reported.
The next morning, a separate small quake, also measuring about magnitude 3.0, was recorded near Ames Lake.
That event was logged at roughly 10:07 a.m. local time. Although the two tremors were separate, they came close enough in time to prompt multiple reports across the Eastside.
Accounts from neighbors varied. Some people said they felt a light jolt or a brief rumble in Cottage Lake, Lake Joy, parts of north Sammamish, and along the Lake Sammamish corridor toward Issaquah.
While Others including residents in Pine Lake, Lake Hills, Cougar Mountain, Bear Creek, and Ames Lake, said they noticed nothing.
A handful of individuals described a short bang or thump more than sustained shaking.
Overall, the most common description was that the movement lasted only a few seconds.
Social posts and local forum threads mirrored that split. Individuals mentioned from “didn’t feel a thing” to “felt a subtle two- or three-second motion.”
Local police and fire officials said they received no calls about injuries or structural damage.
By regional measures, these were minor events, but they stood out among the recent string of small quakes.
Local trackers show Redmond has recorded one quake of magnitude 1.5 or greater in the past 24 hours, three in the past seven days, 17 in the past 30 days, and 177 in the past year.
Wednesday’s 3.0 reading was listed as the largest local event for the day and the week.
Seismologists say earthquakes of this size rarely cause damage but can be felt over a wide area depending on depth, ground type, and building construction.
A few described the experience as an odd noise and a quick tremor that was over almost as soon as it began.
This report draws on U.S. Geological Survey listings and public observations shared on social media and neighborhood forums.
