3.5

M3.5 Earthquake 10 km ENE of Coso Junction, CAAugust 23, 2026

2026-08-23 09:16:58 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 1:16 AM UTC-8 local

MagnitudeM3.5(mw)
Time09:16 UTC1:16 AM UTC-8
Depth2.6 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates36.068°, -117.842°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 23, 2026 at 09:16 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 10 km ENE of Coso Junction, CA, at a depth of 2.6 km and coordinates 36.0677°, -117.8420°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2.8 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 159 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 36.07°, -117.84°

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 M3.5 earthquake near 10 km ENE of Coso Junction, CA

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

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.5 mw
Depth
2.6 km
shallow crustal
Location
36.0677°N
-117.8420°E
Intensity (MMI)
4.1
moderate

Technical Information

Event ID
ci41533752
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
189
Stations Used
55
Azimuthal Gap
36.0°
Min Station Distance
0.051°
RMS Residual
0.20 sec
Last Updated
2026-08-23 10:19:47 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Coso Junction, CA?

The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 10 km ENE of Coso Junction, CA on August 23, 2026 at 09:16 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 3.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.5 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: ci41533752). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 23, 2026). M3.5 Earthquake 10 km ENE of Coso Junction, CAAugust 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ci41533752/