Central Nevada got another late-night wake-up call on Monday when a magnitude 4.5 earthquake rolled through the desert northeast of Tonopah, giving residents a brief but noticeable shake around dinnertime. The main jolt hit at 7:39 p.m. local time and was followed by several smaller rumbles.
Epicenter and size
The Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno logged the quake at 7:39:52 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 4 and placed the epicenter about 77 kilometers (48 miles) northeast of Tonopah, near 38.457°N, 116.501°W. The hypocenter was shallow, roughly 7 kilometers deep. Cataloged as event ID nn00917635, it came in at moment magnitude 4.5, according to the Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Aftershocks and where it was felt
About ten minutes after the mainshock, local reports pointed to an aftershock of roughly magnitude 3.4 in the same general area. ShakeMap products show light shaking registered in Tonopah, Ely, Warm Springs and Eureka. FOX5 Las Vegas highlighted the aftershock and the mapping data, while USGS ShakeMap and PAGER products for the event list a "green" PAGER alert and maximum intensities around IV, which is consistent with light, non-damaging shaking, according to USGS ShakeMap and PAGER data.
How this fits into recent Nevada activity
This latest temblor slots into a busy stretch for Nevada’s fault lines. In the past few days alone, the state has seen a magnitude 5.2 event southeast of Silver Springs on May 1 and a cluster of smaller quakes across western and central Nevada. Those earlier shakes are listed in the state’s seismology network and in catalogs maintained by the Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno, which has been tracking several springtime clusters.
What residents should know
So far, there have been no reports of injuries or damage in news accounts, and USGS PAGER products flag only a low chance of any structural impacts. Even so, officials are reminding residents that a few aftershocks are normal and that it is worth treating this as a dress rehearsal for something bigger. Authorities urged people to review earthquake safety steps and keep an eye on local preparedness apps, FOX5 Las Vegas reported. If you felt the shaking, it is a good time to scan your home for hazards, secure anything that shifted or broke and stay ready for additional small jolts while following local emergency guidance.
