3.6

M3.6 Earthquake 21 km N of Searles Valley, CAJune 22, 2026

2026-06-22 05:49:46 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 9:49 PM UTC-8 local

MagnitudeM3.6(mw)
Time05:49 UTC9:49 PM UTC-8
Depth2.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates35.958°, -117.393°
Felt by6DYFI responses· max MMI 3.5
StatusAutomatic (preliminary)

On June 22, 2026 at 05:49 UTC, a magnitude 3.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 21 km N of Searles Valley, CA, at a depth of 2.0 km and coordinates 35.9585°, -117.3933°. The earthquake was reported felt by 6 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 3.5 (light).

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 3.6 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 180 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 35.96°, -117.39°

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 M3.6 earthquake near 21 km N of Searles Valley, CA

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

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 6 citizen responses 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 M3.6 earthquake near 21 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
3.6 mw
Depth
2.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
35.9585°N
-117.3933°E
Felt Reports
6
DYFI responses
Intensity (MMI)
3.5
light
Community Intensity
3.4
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
ci41492064
Event Type
earthquake
Status
Automatic
Significance
200
Stations Used
58
Azimuthal Gap
34.0°
Min Station Distance
0.112°
RMS Residual
0.19 sec
Last Updated
2026-06-22 06:52:02 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.6 earthquake near Searles Valley, CA?

The magnitude 3.6 earthquake that struck 21 km N of Searles Valley, CA on June 22, 2026 at 05:49 UTC had a depth of 2.0 km. It was felt by 6 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 3.5 (light). 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 3.6 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: ci41492064). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, June 22, 2026). M3.6 Earthquake 21 km N of Searles Valley, CAJune 22, 2026. Retrieved June 22, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ci41492064/