3.8

M3.8 Earthquake 22 km SW of Fallon, NevadaApril 25, 2026

2026-04-25 12:11:01 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 4:11 AM UTC-8 local

Felt by 35 people across nearby locations. Aftershock of the M5.7 mainshock.

MagnitudeM3.8(ml)
Time12:11 UTC4:11 AM UTC-8
Depth9.1 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates39.336°, -118.976°
Felt by35DYFI responses· max MMI 3.9
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 25, 2026 at 12:11 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 22 km SW of Fallon, Nevada, at a depth of 9.1 km and coordinates 39.3357°, -118.9760°. The earthquake was reported felt by 35 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 3.9 (light). This earthquake was detected by 23 seismic stations with moderate location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 231, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 6.8 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 241 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.7 mainshock that occurred 11 days ago 20 km ESE of Silver Springs, Nevada. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 171 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 39.34°, -118.98°

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 M3.8 earthquake near 22 km SW of Fallon, Nevada

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

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 35 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 M3.8 earthquake near 22 km SW of Fallon, Nevada

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

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.8 ml
Depth
9.1 km
shallow crustal
Location
39.3357°N
-118.9760°E
Felt Reports
35
DYFI responses
Intensity (MMI)
3.9
light
Community Intensity
3.6
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
nn00916412
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
231
Stations Used
23
Azimuthal Gap
223.0°
Min Station Distance
0.072°
RMS Residual
0.13 sec
Last Updated
2026-04-25 13:23:21 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Fallon, Nevada?

The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 22 km SW of Fallon, Nevada on April 25, 2026 at 12:11 UTC had a depth of 9.1 km. It was felt by 35 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 3.9 (light). For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 39.3357°, -118.9760°, which is 22 km SW of Fallon, Nevada. 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.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.7 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 3.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.7 mainshock that occurred earlier 20 km ESE of Silver Springs, Nevada. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

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: nn00916412). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, April 25, 2026). M3.8 Earthquake 22 km SW of Fallon, NevadaApril 25, 2026. Retrieved April 25, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/nn00916412/