An ‘intensity’ map from the U.S. Geological Survey for Monday’s earthquake near Yerington.
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered northeast of Yerington at 3:08 p.m. Monday was felt across Douglas County, according to the UNR Nevada Seismological Laboratory.
The epicenter was located 16 miles north of Yerington near where a 3.84 quake was reported on Dec. 4.
Around 140 aftershocks were recorded by 5 a.m. Tuesday. The largest was a 4.17 at 4:39 p.m. Monday.
“The aftershocks are coming in fast and furious, (so) the location-magnitudes will be adjusted as our analysts get through the data and replace each automatic pick with the better quality curated picks,” said UNR Seismology Laboratory Director Christie Rowe. “There have been about 35 aftershocks greater than M2 since the mainshock at 3:08 p.m., so it’s certainly possible they are separate events.”
Douglas County Emergency Manager Kara Easton said there were no reports of damage from the earthquake.
According to the university, the earthquake occurred at about 7 miles depth in a fault zone known as the Wabuska Lineament.
"The Wabuska Lineament is one of a cluster of northeast-striking faults in the mountains east of Reno," according to a statement issued Tuesday morning. "Earthquakes like this have been occurring in this region, known as the Walker Lane Shear Zone, which follows the California-Nevada border, for millions of years."
The Pacific tectonic plate is moving northwest relative to the North American tectonic plate, and while most of that takes place along the San Andreas fault, it also causes deformation farther east in the crust of Western Nevada creating the complex web of faults in the Walker Lane.
“A magnitude 5.8 earthquake has the potential to send objects flying or damage masonry buildings,” said Rowe. “We are grateful to Nevada schools for participating in the Great ShakeOut so our kids know how to ‘drop, cover and hold on’ during earthquakes. Damaging earthquakes can happen anywhere in Nevada, and we feel fortunate that no injuries have been reported from today’s event. We encourage Nevadans to prepare by storing emergency supplies and making a plan for homes, schools and workplaces.”
The U.S. Geological Survey reported more than 10,000 responses on its Did You Feel It site with three-quarters of those posted in the first 20 minutes.
A respondent reported feeling the earthquake in Indian Springs 264 miles away.
Another respondent reported feeling the earthquake in Lovelock, 84 miles away. Minden is located 31 miles from the epicenter. Seven Glenbrook residents reported the earthquake.
It has been four days since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Cape Mendocino, Calif., prompted a tsunami warning for the West Coast.
That temblor occurred just west of the Mendocino Triple Junction where the northern end of the San Andreas fault between the Pacific and North American plates meets the southern end of the Cascadia subduction zone.
“Of the 11 earthquakes magnitude 7 and larger in California since 1900, five (including the 2024 event) occurred in the vicinity of the Mendocino triple junction,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
