3.3

M3.3 Earthquake 24 km W of Preston, Nevada — October 3, 2026

2026-10-03 13:58:13 UTC (2 days ago) · approx. 5:58 AM UTC-8 local

MagnitudeM3.3(ml)
Time13:58 UTC≈ 5:58 AM UTC-8
Depth4.2 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates38.938°, -115.344°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 3, 2026 at 13:58 UTC, a magnitude 3.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 24 km W of Preston, Nevada, at a depth of 4.2 km and coordinates 38.9375°, -115.3439°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1.3 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 112 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 38.94°, -115.34°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.3 ml
Depth
4.2 km
shallow crustal
Location
38.9375°N
-115.3439°E

Technical Information

Event ID
nn00925220
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
167
Stations Used
7
Azimuthal Gap
205.0°
Min Station Distance
0.413°
RMS Residual
0.13 sec
Last Updated
2026-10-05 20:26:04 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.3 earthquake near Preston, Nevada?

The magnitude 3.3 earthquake that struck 24 km W of Preston, Nevada on October 3, 2026 at 13:58 UTC had a depth of 4.2 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 3.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.3 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: nn00925220). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 3, 2026). M3.3 Earthquake 24 km W of Preston, Nevada — October 3, 2026. Retrieved October 5, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/nn00925220/