4.1 Quake Rattles Las Vegas as String of Quakes Jolts West Coast

The Las Vegas incident hit just before 2 p.m. and was centered about 6.8 miles northwest of Summerlin South, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 6/4/2026, 11:18:14 PM EDT

4.1 Quake Rattles Las Vegas as String of Quakes Jolts West Coast — Hotel-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip are seen in Las Vegas, Nevada on Feb. 25, 2006. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

A 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Las Vegas area on Thursday afternoon, shaking Southern Nevada residents and drawing more than 1,500 reports to federal seismologists. The earthquake is the latest in a day-long series of quakes that raked the western United States from Oregon to the Mojave Desert.

The Las Vegas incident hit just before 2 p.m. and was centered about 6.8 miles northwest of Summerlin South, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was strong enough to put locals on edge but no major damage or injuries were immediately reported.

Thursday's seismic activity stretched far up the Pacific Coast, where a cluster of moderate earthquakes struck near the Mendocino Triple Junction—a notoriously volatile region off the Northern California coast where three tectonic plates converge. Scientists consider it one of the most seismically active zones in the country.

The most powerful of those offshore quakes—a magnitude 5.7—hit in the early morning hours just west-southwest of Pistol River, Oregon, striking just before 4 a.m. Pacific time. Roughly two hours later, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck approximately 40 miles west of Petrolia in Humboldt County, California. A separate magnitude 5.1 quake also rattled waters about 120 miles from McKinleyville. Neither triggered a tsunami warning, and no significant damage was reported from either.

The offshore activity continued a seismic streak that began the previous day. On Wednesday, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck just before 4 a.m. roughly 95 miles west-southwest of Pistol River, Oregon. Residents as far north as Reedsport, Oregon, and as far south as the Eureka, California, area reported feeling weak to light shaking.

On Facebook, one person described the quake as "a big jolt," while another said the shaking woke his dog in the middle of the night. Others said they felt nothing. "Didn't feel anything. Thankfully," one comment read. "That's a big one."

Back-to-back aftershocks followed at 5:45 a.m. and 6:11 a.m. on Wednesday—magnitudes 5.1 and 4.5, respectively—both striking offshore near Petrolia. The agency logged more than 100 reports of weak to moderate shaking from the 5.1, with residents as far away as McKinleyville and as far inland as Fort Seward saying they felt the ground move. Smaller quakes of magnitudes 2.8 and 3.9 continued to rattle the area later that morning. "I slept through the first one, but I felt the second one," one local shared on X.

Wednesday's quakes were all relatively shallow, ranging in depth from about a tenth of a mile to 6.2 miles. Depth matters: shallower earthquakes tend to produce stronger surface shaking because seismic waves travel a shorter distance and retain more energy before reaching the ground.

With seismic events continuing to ripple across the West, the USGS is reminding residents to follow established safety procedures. Those indoors should drop, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on—staying clear of windows, fireplaces, and heavy appliances. People outdoors should move into an open area away from buildings and power lines. Drivers should pull safely off the road, avoiding bridges, overpasses, and trees, and remain inside their vehicles until shaking stops. Those near the ocean should consult tsunami safety guidelines from NOAA's Tsunami Warning Center.