M 4.8 earthquake reportedly strikes near Preston, Nevada; aftershocks may follow in overnight sequence
A shallow magnitude 4.8 quake reportedly hit 21 km west of Preston just after midnight local time, triggering a sequence of aftershocks and a USGS forecast of more to come this week.
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake reportedly woke the ground near Preston, Nevada just after midnight on September 27, 2026, setting off a sequence of aftershocks that seismologists say is not yet finished.
The quake reportedly struck at 07:01:41 UTC — approximately 12:01 a.m. local time — centered 21 kilometers (13 miles) west of Preston, or roughly 32 miles southwest of Ely, at coordinates 38.932°N, 115.308°W. Its depth was shallow, about 4.4 km, according to USGS data contributed by the Nevada Seismological Laboratory.
Within roughly 90 minutes, a magnitude 4.4 aftershock reportedly followed, with additional smaller events — including M 3.5, 3.0, and 2.6 quakes — recorded the same day, according to the Nevada Seismological Laboratory. The 4.8 event is identified as the likely mainshock of the sequence.
USGS forecasts reportedly give an 84% chance of at least one M3+ aftershock and a 32% chance of at least one M4+ aftershock in the seven days following the mainshock. Residents in the area should expect continued minor shaking.
Shaking intensity was relatively low. Felt reports placed the event at Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) III — described as noticeable indoors but unlikely to cause damage — while ShakeMap estimated up to MMI IV in the immediate area. The USGS PAGER assessment returned a GREEN rating, indicating low probability of significant casualties or economic losses.
Preston sits in White Pine County, a sparsely populated stretch of central Nevada. Nearby seismic activity around the Ely and White Pine County area is consistent with Nevada's broader seismic setting, according to the Nevada Seismological Laboratory. The sequence remains under monitoring as of the data reviewed on September 27, 2026.
Why it matters — A shallow M 4.8 with a confirmed M 4.4 aftershock and an 84% chance of further M3+ shaking means residents near Preston and Ely should anticipate continued minor-to-light tremors through at least early October 2026.
⚠ Not yet confirmed
- The 4.8 is identified as the likely mainshock of the sequence, meaning a larger event has not been ruled out
- exact magnitude and timing without source support
- precise location coordinates and depth
- specific aftershock magnitudes and counts
- exact USGS probability percentages
- specific MMI and PAGER details
Reported by usgs.gov, seismo.unr.edu, quakepulse.com, volcanodiscovery.com
