M2.6 Earthquake 9 km E of Cowles, Nebraska — March 1, 2026
2026-03-01 20:26:06 UTC (2026-03-01) · approx. 1:26 PM UTC-7 local
Felt by 16 people across nearby locations.
On March 1, 2026 at 20:26 UTC, a magnitude 2.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 9 km E of Cowles, Nebraska, at a depth of 5.6 km and coordinates 40.1618°, -98.3351°. This earthquake was detected by 21 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 109, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 2.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 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.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 16 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
-98.3351°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 2.6 earthquake near Cowles, Nebraska?
The magnitude 2.6 earthquake that struck 9 km E of Cowles, Nebraska on March 1, 2026 at 20:26 UTC had a depth of 5.6 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 40.1618°, -98.3351°, which is 9 km E of Cowles, Nebraska.
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.
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: us7000s1b4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 1, 2026). M2.6 Earthquake 9 km E of Cowles, Nebraska — March 1, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000s1b4/