A swarm of small earthquakes rattled northern Nevada on Saturday, with more than half a dozen tremors hitting near Valmy, northeast of Battle Mountain, according to the Nevada Seismological Laboratory and the USGS. The biggest quakes were magnitude 3.3, although no damage was reported.
According to the USGS, the sequence began shortly after midnight and lasted into the afternoon, with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 3.3. The majority of the earthquakes were centered 50 to 68 kilometers northeast of Valmy, near the Oregon-Nevada border. Local residents were more likely to feel some earthquakes due to their modest depths (less than 5 kilometers).
Residents in Elko County and adjacent rural towns, including Midas, may have experienced light shaking. Emergency officials advise residents to secure loose objects indoors and check emergency supplies, as they anticipate aftershocks in the coming hours.
Clusters like Saturday’s are common in Nevada, one of the most seismically active states in the United States. Authorities emphasize the necessity of earthquake preparedness, which includes knowing safe inside locations and having supplies on hand.
Seismologists will continue to watch the swarm over the weekend. Seismologists expect additional minor quakes, but no severe repercussions at this time.
