Tonopah, NV – Two light earthquakes were recorded early Thursday in central Nevada, according to data from the Nevada Seismological Laboratory. Both tremors struck within roughly one hour of each other and were felt in remote desert areas with no immediate reports of damage.
The first quake, a magnitude 3.1, occurred at 12:47 a.m. UTC (5:47 p.m. Wednesday local time) about 76 kilometers northeast of Tonopah, at a depth of 9 kilometers. The second, measuring magnitude 2.8, struck at 1:47 a.m. UTC (6:47 p.m. local time) roughly 44 kilometers southeast of Beatty, near the Nevada–California border.
Both quakes were reviewed and confirmed by the Nevada Seismological Laboratory. No “Did You Feel It?” responses had been logged as of Thursday morning, suggesting minimal to no felt impact in nearby communities.
The two events occurred within the seismically active Walker Lane region, which runs along western Nevada and accommodates much of the state’s tectonic movement. Small-to-moderate earthquakes are common in this zone, particularly between Tonopah and Beatty, where underground fault systems occasionally release stress through low-magnitude tremors.
Officials emphasize that while these events are minor, Nevada remains the third most seismically active state in the U.S., behind California and Alaska. Residents are encouraged to keep emergency supplies ready and stay informed about regional seismic updates.
