M 3.3 Minor Earthquake Strikes 82 km NE of Tonopah, Nevada

What Happened

A minor earthquake with a magnitude of 3.3 ml occurred on Wednesday, March 17, 2026, at 20:28:08 UTC (1:28 PM local time). The seismic event was recorded at a shallow depth of 7.2 kilometers (approximately 4.5 miles).

Location Details

The earthquake’s epicenter was located at coordinates 38.4877°N and 116.4519°W. This position is approximately 82 kilometers (51 miles) northeast of Tonopah, Nevada. Because the event occurred at a depth of less than 20 kilometers, it is classified as a shallow earthquake. Shallow earthquakes are typically more likely to be felt by people on the surface compared to deeper seismic events.

Impact Assessment

According to the USGS, there were no immediate reports of the earthquake being felt by residents in the surrounding area. There is no tsunami advisory, watch, or warning in effect for this event. No alert level color has been assigned, and there are no reports of damage or injuries resulting from the tremor.

What You Should Know

Earthquakes with magnitudes between 2.5 and 3.9 are classified as minor. While they are often felt by people near the epicenter, they rarely cause damage to buildings or infrastructure. Residents in seismically active regions should remain aware that aftershocks are a routine occurrence following an initial event, though they are typically smaller in magnitude.

Source

Information for this report was provided by the USGS.