EERI’s Northern California Regional Chapter is hosting a FREE webinar on the recent M5.7 Western Nevada Earthquake. The earthquake occurred on April 13, 2026 at 6:29 p.m. local time, about 40 miles east of Reno. This one-hour webinar will feature presentations from researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno, and USGS.
June 11, 2026
12:00 - 1:00 PM Pacific Time
>>REGISTER HERE!<<
The earthquake occurred at 6:29 p.m. local time, about 20 km (12.7 mi) east-southeast of Silver Springs, and roughly 72 km (45 mi) east of Reno (population ~275,000). The earthquake was followed by over 100 aftershocks. Although small tremors are common in the Basin and Range province, this event represents one of the more significant localized shakes in western Nevada in recent years. Because of its shallow depth, the earthquake reached a maximum intensity of VII (Very Strong) near the epicenter, according to USGS Community Felt Reports.
(Source: USGS)
The April 13 earthquake occurred within the Walker Lane shear zone at a very shallow depth of about 5 km (3.1 mi) and was most likely a right‑lateral strike‑slip event with a minor normal‑faulting component. More information can be found at the following link: USGS Event Page: M 5.7 - 20 km ESE of Silver Springs, Nevada.
Damage assessments remain ongoing. Preliminary statements from Lyon County Emergency Management indicate:
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Injuries: No immediate injuries or fatalities have been reported by local authorities.
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Housing: Minor interior damage occurred in communities nearest the epicenter, including items thrown from store shelves and shattered glass near Fallon and Stagecoach.
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Aftershocks: An active sequence with dozens of aftershocks was recorded within the first few hours, ranging from M2.5 to M3.7, causing continued minor shaking in the localized area.
Reno is the largest metro area in northwestern Nevada, with a population approaching 500,000 across the Truckee Meadows. Despite its distance from the epicenter, Reno experienced light to moderate effects. Shaking was felt widely across western Nevada and spilled across the state line into Northern California, triggering widespread USGS ShakeAlert notifications to residents as far away as Sacramento.
The briefing will also explain how the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) and ASCE 7 Standard characterize shaking in the region. Notably, Reno’s hazard and design shaking intensities are at levels comparable to San Francisco. The webinar will include a comparison of seismic intensities for both cities and discuss what they reveal about regional risk.
Webinar Speakers
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Dr. Christie Rowe is the Director of the Nevada Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno. Presentation: Seismological characteristics of the event and historical earthquakes in the region.
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Dr. Nicolas Luco is a Supervisory Research Civil Engineer with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Project Leader for the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model. Presentation: Overview of USGS National Seismic Hazard Model and ASCE 7 Standard shaking in the Reno region.
The webinar will include time for participants to ask questions of the speakers.
One Professional Development Hour will be provided free to EERI members and can be purchased for $25 for non-members.
Note: To register for this free webinar, you will need to sign into your account on EERI’s new member portal. If you haven’t yet reset your password to do so, view the instructions here.
