2.5

M2.5 Earthquake 20 km N of Searles Valley, CAMay 14, 2026

2026-05-14 10:51:22 UTC (4 days ago) · approx. 2:51 AM UTC-8 local

MagnitudeM2.5(ml)
Time10:51 UTC2:51 AM UTC-8
Depth2.6 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates35.951°, -117.389°
Felt by1DYFI response
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 14, 2026 at 10:51 UTC, a magnitude 2.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 20 km N of Searles Valley, CA, at a depth of 2.6 km and coordinates 35.9513°, -117.3895°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 2.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 73.9 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 30 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 35.95°, -117.39°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M2.5 earthquake near 20 km N of Searles Valley, CA

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
2.5 ml
Depth
2.6 km
shallow crustal
Location
35.9513°N
-117.3895°E
Felt Reports
1
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
1.0
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
ci41467040
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
93
Stations Used
41
Azimuthal Gap
50.0°
Min Station Distance
0.105°
RMS Residual
0.15 sec
Last Updated
2026-05-15 01:45:05 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 2.5 earthquake near Searles Valley, CA?

The magnitude 2.5 earthquake that struck 20 km N of Searles Valley, CA on May 14, 2026 at 10:51 UTC had a depth of 2.6 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 2.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

What should I do after an earthquake?

If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: ci41467040). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 14, 2026). M2.5 Earthquake 20 km N of Searles Valley, CAMay 14, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ci41467040/