Earthquakes in Reno, Nevada
Last earthquake: 2 days ago · 33 in past 30 days · Largest: M3.4 · Population 264K
Last updated: August 12, 2026 at 06:33 PM UTC · Data: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
No significant earthquakes recorded near Reno recently. Last M2.5+: 16 days ago.
Quick Facts — Earthquakes in Reno
- Population
- 264K
- Seismic activity level
- moderate
- Nearest major fault
- Mount Rose Fault Zone (8 km)
- Largest recorded nearby
- M7.1 (1954 Fairview Peak earthquake)
- 30-year probability M6.7+
- 30% (NSHM)
- Earthquakes past 30 days
- 33
- Last significant (M2.5+)
- 16 days ago
- 2026 total (M1.0+)
- 794
The Reno area averages about 1.4 magnitude 4.0+ earthquakes per year and has recorded 33 earthquakes (M1.0+) within 75 km in the past 30 days. The most recent significant earthquake (M3.0+) was a magnitude 3.4 event 16 days ago 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada.
Reno sits in the moderate category for U.S. seismic activity. The largest earthquake in or near Reno since records began was the magnitude 7.1 Fairview Peak earthquake in 1954, which struck approximately 159 km east of the city.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Seismic Hazard Model, there is approximately a 30% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake within 100 km of Reno in the next 30 years, and a 15% probability of a magnitude 7.0 or greater event. The largest credible earthquake predicted for the Reno area is a magnitude 7.0 event on the Mount Rose Fault Zone, which lies 8 km from downtown Reno. Source: Nevada Seismological Laboratory; USGS NSHM 2023
Reno sits in a region characterized by Basin and Range extensional tectonics, where normal faulting accommodates east-west crustal stretching at approximately 10 mm per year. Beyond the Mount Rose Fault Zone, secondary fault systems include the Walker Lane Belt and Genoa Fault. View all earthquakes in Nevada.
2026 Activity vs Historical Average
Recent Significant Earthquakes Near Reno
Earthquake Map — Reno Area
Fault Lines Near Reno
| Fault Name | Type | Distance | Max Credible Mag | Last Major Rupture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rose Fault Zone | normal | 8 km | M7.0 | paleoseismic data limited |
| Walker Lane Belt | right-lateral strike-slip | 20 km | M7.5 | 2026 (M5.7 Silver Springs) |
| Genoa Fault | normal | 50 km | M7.2 | paleoseismic ~500 CE |
| Pyramid Lake Fault Zone | right-lateral strike-slip | 35 km | M7.0 | paleoseismic data limited |
Recent Earthquakes (Last 30 Days)
Dataset at a glance — Reno
Over the past 30 days, Reno has recorded 33 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater in our tracker. The remaining 5 fell in the M2.5–M3.9 band. By depth: 33 shallow (<70 km). 21 of the epicenters were offshore. 8 events produced at least one felt report, totalling 15 citizen submissions to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Focal depths ranged from 2.7 km to 12.0 km. 32 of the 33 solutions have been reviewed by a USGS seismologist; the remaining 1 are automatic and may be refined.
Each row in the table below includes a narrative summary of the event, ordered by time. Use the column headers to sort or filter by magnitude.
| Time ↓ | Mag ↕ | Location ↕ | Depth ↕ | Felt ↕ | MMI | Alert | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 days ago 2026-08-06 09:27:17 UTC | 2.2md | 3 km NW of Cold Springs, NV 39.698°, -120.007° | 8.2 km | - | - | - | Auto | USGS → |
This magnitude 2.2 event was detected 3 km NW of Cold Springs, NV on August 6, 2026, with origin time 09:27 UTC. The event was offshore. See the M2.2 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-27 2026-07-27 16:13:58 UTC | 3.0ml | 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada 39.315°, -119.074° | 4.5 km | 1 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 3.0 earthquake was recorded 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada on July 27, 2026 at 16:13 UTC. This event falls inside the aftershock decay of a nearby magnitude 3.4 earthquake that occurred about 1 hours earlier. This very shallow event was close enough to the surface that even modest magnitudes can produce significant local shaking. See the M3.0 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-27 2026-07-27 16:13:18 UTC | 3.4mwr | 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada 39.316°, -119.054° | 12.0 km | 5 | III | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On July 27, 2026 at 16:13 UTC, a magnitude 3.4 earthquake struck 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada. In the 72 hours after this event, the USGS recorded 3 smaller earthquakes within 20 km, consistent with an ongoing aftershock sequence rooted here. See the M3.4 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-26 2026-07-26 02:43:06 UTC | 2.1ml | 19 km SSE of Silver Springs, Nevada 39.268°, -119.109° | 8.6 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On July 26, 2026 at 02:43 UTC, a magnitude 2.1 earthquake struck 19 km SSE of Silver Springs, Nevada. This event falls inside the aftershock decay of a nearby magnitude 2.1 earthquake that occurred about 54 hours earlier. See the M2.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-24 2026-07-24 23:20:27 UTC | 2.6md | 8 km NE of Lake Davis, CA 39.920°, -120.413° | 4.0 km | 4 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
At 23:20 UTC on July 24, 2026, a magnitude 2.6 tremor occurred 8 km NE of Lake Davis, CA. This very shallow event was close enough to the surface that even modest magnitudes can produce significant local shaking. See the M2.6 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-23 2026-07-23 20:15:53 UTC | 2.1ml | 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada 39.317°, -119.061° | 7.2 km | 1 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
July 23, 2026 brought a magnitude 2.1 earthquake 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada, logged at 20:15 UTC. It arrived roughly 67 hours after a larger magnitude 2.8 mainshock in the same 20 km area, placing it within the typical aftershock window. The event was offshore. See the M2.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-21 2026-07-21 03:48:16 UTC | 2.1ml | 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada 39.313°, -119.058° | 6.9 km | 1 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 2.1 seismic event took place 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada on July 21, 2026 at 03:48 UTC. Coming 2 hours after a magnitude 2.8 earthquake in the immediate vicinity, it is most likely an aftershock of that larger rupture. The event was offshore. See the M2.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-21 2026-07-21 01:23:29 UTC | 2.8ml | 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada 39.312°, -119.052° | 7.8 km | 1 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Seismographs logged a magnitude 2.8 earthquake 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada with origin time 01:23 UTC on July 21, 2026. In the 72 hours after this event, the USGS recorded 8 smaller earthquakes within 20 km, consistent with an ongoing aftershock sequence rooted here. See the M2.8 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-21 2026-07-21 00:40:24 UTC | 2.7ml | 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada 39.317°, -119.065° | 7.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On July 21, 2026, Reno registered a magnitude 2.7 earthquake 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada at 00:40 UTC. In the 72 hours after this event, the USGS recorded 8 smaller earthquakes within 20 km, consistent with an ongoing aftershock sequence rooted here. See the M2.7 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-19 2026-07-19 14:12:18 UTC | 2.3md | 8 km NE of Lake Davis, CA 39.921°, -120.409° | 9.6 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
The USGS recorded this magnitude 2.3 earthquake 8 km NE of Lake Davis, CA at 14:12 UTC on July 19, 2026. The event was offshore. See the M2.3 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-18 2026-07-18 09:10:48 UTC | 2.0md | 10 km NNE of Truckee, CA 39.413°, -120.159° | 4.9 km | 1 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 2.0 earthquake was recorded 10 km NNE of Truckee, CA on July 18, 2026 at 09:10 UTC. This very shallow event was close enough to the surface that even modest magnitudes can produce significant local shaking. See the M2.0 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-17 2026-07-17 03:59:20 UTC | 2.2md | 8 km NE of Lake Davis, CA 39.911°, -120.394° | 10.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Reports of a magnitude 2.2 earthquake 8 km NE of Lake Davis, CA came in on July 17, 2026 at 03:59 UTC. The event was offshore. See the M2.2 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
Common Questions About Earthquakes in Reno
How often do earthquakes happen in Reno?
Reno experiences moderate earthquake activity. The area averages 13.3 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater per year, with 0.12 reaching magnitude 5.0 or higher. In the past 30 days, 33 earthquakes (M1.0+) have been recorded within 75 km of the city.
What was the biggest earthquake to hit Reno?
The largest earthquake in or near Reno since records began was the magnitude 7.1 Fairview Peak earthquake in 1954, which struck approximately 159 km east of the city.
What is the earthquake risk in Reno?
Earthquakes cannot be predicted with precision. However, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates there is approximately a 30% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake within 100 km of Reno in the next 30 years. The most likely source is the Mount Rose Fault Zone, which has a maximum credible magnitude of 7.0.
What fault lines are near Reno?
The Mount Rose Fault Zone runs approximately 8 km from Reno and is the most significant local seismic threat, with a maximum credible magnitude of 7.0. Other nearby faults include the Walker Lane Belt (20 km), the Genoa Fault (50 km), the Pyramid Lake Fault Zone (35 km).
Was there an earthquake in Reno today?
No earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater have been recorded near Reno in the past 24 hours. The most recent M2.5+ event was 16 days ago.
About This Page
This page is maintained by Earthquake Tracker, an independent seismic activity reporting service. Earthquake data is sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program and updated every hour. Probability estimates use the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM 2023). Historical earthquake data is sourced from the USGS Historical Earthquake Catalog. Fault information comes from the USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database and SCEC Community Fault Model.
Last data refresh: August 12, 2026 at 06:33 PM UTC