M4.8 Earthquake 19 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada — April 22, 2026
2026-04-22 17:23:37 UTC (2026-04-22) · approx. 9:23 AM UTC-8 local
Felt by 292 people across surrounding communities. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 7.4 (severe).
On April 22, 2026 at 17:23 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 19 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada, at a depth of 3.0 km and coordinates 39.2758°, -119.0955°. The earthquake was reported felt by 292 peopleacross surrounding communities, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 7.4 (severe). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 37 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 486, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Silver Springs (population 4,684).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 223 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — 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
What the Shaking Felt Like
At MMI 7.4 (severe), people in the most strongly affected areas would have experienced: Very strong shaking. Difficult to stand. Damage to weak structures; slight damage to well-built structures. Furniture broken. Fallen plaster and loose bricks.
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 292 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 | 565,098 |
| MMI 4 | light | 33,271 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 886 |
Earthquake Details
-119.0955°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Silver Springs, Nevada?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 19 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada on April 22, 2026 at 17:23 UTC had a depth of 3.0 km. It was felt by 292 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 7.4 (severe). For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 39.2758°, -119.0955°, which is 19 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada. The nearest populated place is Silver Springs (population 4,684). View all earthquakes in Nevada.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 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: nn00916046). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, April 22, 2026). M4.8 Earthquake 19 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada — April 22, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/nn00916046/