Nevada was hit by a swarm of earthquakes on Monday, with four quakes striking near Valmy, about 200 miles southwest of Reno. The strongest had a magnitude of 4.0. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported a “27 percent risk” of another magnitude 3.0 or higher quake within the next week. Valmy is near several active fault lines, including the Pleasant Valley fault, which can produce quakes up to 7.7 in magnitude.

The first earthquake, a 3.4 magnitude, struck at 8:03 a.m. ET, followed by a 2.6 magnitude at 12:24 p.m. and a 4.0 magnitude four minutes later. The last recorded quake, at 1:29 p.m., was 2.9 in magnitude. Although few people reported shaking, some described it as “strong.”

Valmy is in the Basin, an area known for crustal stretching and fault activity. Mining operations, such as Twin Creeks and Turquoise Ridge, could also influence seismic activity.

A 5.7 magnitude quake hit northern Nevada in December 2024, the largest since a 6.5 quake in 2020. “Earthquakes in Western Nevada are caused by the extension that is pulling Nevada apart,” explains Shakeout.