M2.8 Earthquake 6 km ESE of Cowles, Nebraska — May 11, 2026
2026-05-11 14:40:16 UTC (2026-05-11) · approx. 7:40 AM UTC-7 local
On May 11, 2026 at 14:40 UTC, a magnitude 2.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 6 km ESE of Cowles, Nebraska, at a depth of 5.0 km and coordinates 40.1578°, -98.3734°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 2.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 52 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 3 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
-98.3734°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 2.8 earthquake near Cowles, Nebraska?
The magnitude 2.8 earthquake that struck 6 km ESE of Cowles, Nebraska on May 11, 2026 at 14:40 UTC had a depth of 5.0 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 2.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 2.8 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000swww). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 11, 2026). M2.8 Earthquake 6 km ESE of Cowles, Nebraska — May 11, 2026. Retrieved May 21, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000swww/