3.4

M3.4 Earthquake 6 km SSW of Brawley, CAMay 18, 2024

2024-05-18 23:05:31 UTC (2024-05-18) · approx. 3:05 PM UTC-8 local

MagnitudeM3.4(ml)
Time23:05 UTC3:05 PM UTC-8
Depth3.3 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates32.923°, -115.550°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 18, 2024 at 23:05 UTC, a magnitude 3.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 6 km SSW of Brawley, CA, at a depth of 3.3 km and coordinates 32.9230°, -115.5498°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1.8 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 129 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 32.92°, -115.55°

ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity

Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.

USGS ShakeMap intensity contours for the M3.4 earthquake near 6 km SSW of Brawley, CA

Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.4 ml
Depth
3.3 km
shallow crustal
Location
32.9230°N
-115.5498°E
Intensity (MMI)
4.2
moderate

Technical Information

Event ID
ci40591063
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
176
Stations Used
40
Azimuthal Gap
53.0°
Min Station Distance
0.023°
RMS Residual
0.30 sec
Last Updated
2024-07-26 23:58:12 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.4 earthquake near Brawley, CA?

The magnitude 3.4 earthquake that struck 6 km SSW of Brawley, CA on May 18, 2024 at 23:05 UTC had a depth of 3.3 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.4 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: ci40591063). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, May 18, 2024). M3.4 Earthquake 6 km SSW of Brawley, CAMay 18, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ci40591063/