A small earthquake shook parts of north-central Arkansas early Monday morning, with several residents reporting they felt the brief tremor across the region.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake measured 2.6 magnitude and occurred at 3:40 a.m. Central Daylight Time on Monday, July 20, 2026. The epicenter was located approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west of Mount Pleasant in Izard County, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Melbourne.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) beneath the surface. The event was classified as an mb_lg (body-wave magnitude) earthquake and has been reviewed and confirmed by a USGS seismologist.
The USGS “Did You Feel It?” reporting system received eight public reports from people who experienced the shaking. Residents described feeling a brief jolt during the early morning hours, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage.
Another Recent Arkansas Earthquake
The latest tremor continues a stretch of minor seismic activity across Arkansas. During the past week, small earthquakes have also been recorded near Blytheville and Marked Tree, while another earthquake was documented near Pleasant Plains in June. Although these events occurred in different parts of the state, they illustrate the routine low-level seismic activity detected by monitoring equipment.
New Madrid Seismic Zone
Much of eastern and northern Arkansas lies within or near the influence of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, one of the most active earthquake regions east of the Rocky Mountains. The fault system extends through portions of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois and is responsible for thousands of small earthquakes over time.
Scientists emphasize that small earthquakes like Monday’s 2.6 magnitude event are common and do not necessarily indicate that a larger earthquake is imminent. Most earthquakes below magnitude 3.0 cause little to no damage but can often be felt by people living close to the epicenter.
Emergency management officials reported no disruptions to utilities, transportation or public services following the earthquake.
The USGS continues to monitor seismic activity throughout Arkansas and encourages anyone who felt the earthquake to submit a report through its “Did You Feel It?” system to help scientists better understand how the shaking was experienced across the region.
Earthquake At a Glance
Magnitude: 2.6
Location: 2 km west of Mount Pleasant, Arkansas
Nearest Community: Approximately 15 km from Melbourne
Date: Monday, July 20, 2026
Time: 3:40 a.m. CDT
Depth: 5.6 km (3.5 miles)
Magnitude Type: mb_lg
USGS Status: Reviewed by a seismologist
Public Reports: 8 people reported feeling the earthquake
Damage/Injuries: None reported
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