M3.5 Earthquake 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada — May 2, 2026
2026-05-02 14:09:35 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 6:09 AM UTC-8 local
Felt by 12 people across nearby locations. Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On May 2, 2026 at 14:09 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada, at a depth of 7.2 km and coordinates 39.2778°, -119.0998°. The earthquake was reported felt by 12 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 3.5 (light). This earthquake was detected by 24 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 186, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2.3 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 145 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 1 day ago 19 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 212 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
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 12 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
-119.0998°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Silver Springs, Nevada?
The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada on May 2, 2026 at 14:09 UTC had a depth of 7.2 km. It was felt by 12 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 3.5 (light). For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 39.2778°, -119.0998°, which is 18 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 3.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 3.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 19 km SE 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 3.5 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: nn00917352). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 2, 2026). M3.5 Earthquake 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada — May 2, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/nn00917352/