M3.8 Earthquake 52 km ESE of Beatty, Nevada — March 3, 2026
2026-03-03 17:23:04 UTC (2026-03-03) · approx. 9:23 AM UTC-8 local
Felt by 13 people across nearby locations.
On March 3, 2026 at 17:23 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 52 km ESE of Beatty, Nevada, at a depth of 7.0 km and coordinates 36.6528°, -116.2694°. The earthquake was reported felt by 13 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 3.7 (light). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 57 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 222, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Beatty (population 1,010).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 6.6 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 237 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Nevada, a region characterized by Basin and Range extensional tectonics, where normal faulting accommodates east-west crustal stretching at approximately 10 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Walker Lane fault zone. View all earthquakes in Nevada.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Nearest Populated Places
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.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 13 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 4,287 |
| MMI 4 | light | 14 |
Earthquake Details
-116.2694°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Beatty, Nevada?
The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 52 km ESE of Beatty, Nevada on March 3, 2026 at 17:23 UTC had a depth of 7.0 km. It was felt by 13 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 3.7 (light). For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.6528°, -116.2694°, which is 52 km ESE of Beatty, Nevada. The nearest populated place is Beatty (population 1,010). View all earthquakes in Nevada.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Nevada had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Nevada was the M7.3 Pleasant Valley earthquake of October 2, 1915. Today's magnitude 3.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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: nn00911685). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 3, 2026). M3.8 Earthquake 52 km ESE of Beatty, Nevada — March 3, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/nn00911685/