3.2

M3.2 Earthquake 16 km SSE of Rio Dell, CAMay 17, 2026

2026-05-17 18:49:57 UTC (3 days ago) · approx. 10:49 AM UTC-8 local

MagnitudeM3.2(ml)
Time18:49 UTC10:49 AM UTC-8
Depth28.9 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates40.358°, -124.065°
Felt by4DYFI responses
StatusAutomatic (preliminary)

On May 17, 2026 at 18:49 UTC, a magnitude 3.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 16 km SSE of Rio Dell, CA, at a depth of 28.9 km and coordinates 40.3578°, -124.0652°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 919 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 96 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 40.36°, -124.07°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 4 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 M3.2 earthquake near 16 km SSE of Rio Dell, CA

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

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.2 ml
Depth
28.9 km
shallow crustal
Location
40.3578°N
-124.0652°E
Felt Reports
4
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
2.2
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
nc75361901
Event Type
earthquake
Status
Automatic
Significance
157
Stations Used
38
Azimuthal Gap
54.0°
Min Station Distance
0.042°
RMS Residual
0.13 sec
Last Updated
2026-05-17 20:22:21 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.2 earthquake near Rio Dell, CA?

The magnitude 3.2 earthquake that struck 16 km SSE of Rio Dell, CA on May 17, 2026 at 18:49 UTC had a depth of 28.9 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 3.2 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: nc75361901). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 17, 2026). M3.2 Earthquake 16 km SSE of Rio Dell, CAMay 17, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/nc75361901/