Reykjanes Ridge, North Atlantic — A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck along the remote Reykjanes Ridge late Tuesday night, the U.S. Geological Survey reports. The quake hit at 11:44 PM Central Time, about 350 miles from the nearest land.

What happened: The earthquake measured magnitude 4.8 on the moment magnitude scale — the modern scale scientists use for quake size. It centered on the Reykjanes Ridge in the middle of the North Atlantic, at a depth of about 10 kilometers (roughly 6 miles). The ridge is a long underwater mountain range where two of Earth's tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart, so moderate quakes there are common.

Impacts: This was far offshore in open ocean. There are no reports of shaking felt on land, no damage, and the USGS is not flagging any tsunami threat from this quake.

What to do:

- No action is needed for this remote offshore quake — no communities were in the shaking zone.

- As a general reminder, if you ever do feel strong shaking: drop, cover, and hold on under a sturdy table or desk.

- Expect aftershocks after any quake — smaller shakes can follow in the hours and days after.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 21, 2026.