M2.6 Earthquake 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada — May 1, 2026
2026-05-01 08:22:30 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 12:22 AM UTC-8 local
Felt by 34 people across nearby locations. Aftershock of the M5.7 mainshock.
On May 1, 2026 at 08:22 UTC, a magnitude 2.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada, at a depth of 8.5 km and coordinates 39.3002°, -119.0804°. This earthquake was detected by 20 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 111, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 2.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 116 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 37 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 17 days ago 20 km ESE of Silver Springs, Nevada. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 198 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
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 34 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
Earthquake Details
-119.0804°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 2.6 earthquake near Silver Springs, Nevada?
The magnitude 2.6 earthquake that struck 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada on May 1, 2026 at 08:22 UTC had a depth of 8.5 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 39.3002°, -119.0804°, which is 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada. View all earthquakes in Nevada.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 2.6 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 2.6 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 2.6 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: nn00916987). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 1, 2026). M2.6 Earthquake 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada — May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/nn00916987/