M 6.0 Wells Earthquake
One year from Wells earthquake
Remembering and learning from the Wells Earthquake
by Craig dePolo
(Added 02/26/2009)
Ken Smith's Relocation Map with faults
(Added 02/26/2009)
*This ongoing earthquake swarm is a timely reminder that Nevada has an earthquake hazard. Residents of Nevada are encouraged to check the report on Living with Earthquakes in Nevada on our Earthquake Preparedness
Latest Aftershock Map
*Currently, maps are updated once a seismologist reviews activity and confirms. For real-time map, Click here
Map gallery
Last updated 03/05/2008 03:33 PM
*There are more aftershocks on 27th because we have installed more stations in Wells.
Last updated 03/10/2008 03:05:19 PM
| Regional | Local| 02/21 | Day 1 | Day 1 | 02/22 | Day 2 | Day 2 | 02/23 | Day 3 | Day 3 | 02/24 | Day 4 | Day 4 | 02/25 | Day 5 | Day 5 | 02/26 | Day 6 | Day 6 | 02/27 | Day 7 | Day 7 | 02/28 | Day 8 | Day 8 | 02/29 | Day 9 | Day 9 | 03/01 | Day 10 | Day 10 | Week of 2/24 | Week 2 | Week 2 | 03/02 | Day 11 | Day 11 | 03/03 | Day 12 | Day 12 | 03/04 - 03/05 | Day 13 & 14 | No Aftershocks | 03/06 | Day 15 | Day 15 | 03/07 | Day 16 | Day 16 | 03/08 | Day 17 | Day 17 | Week of 3/2 | Week 3 | Week 3 | 03/09 | Day 18 | No Aftershocks | 03/10 | Day 19 | Day 19 | 03/11 | Day 20 | Day 20 | 03/12 | Day 21 | Day 21 | 03/13 | Day 22 | Day 22 | 03/14 | Day 23 | No Aftershocks | 03/15 | Day 24 | Day 24 | 3/9 - 3/15 | Week 4 | Week 4 | 3/16 - 3/22 | Week 5 | Week 5 | 3/23 - 3/29 | Week 6 | Week 6 | 3/30 - 4/5 | Week 7 | Week 7 | 4/6 - 4/12 | Week 8 | Week 8 | 4/13 - 4/19 | Week 9 | Week 9 | 4/20 - 5/3 | Week 10 & 11 | | 5/4 - 5/17 | Week 12 & 13 | | 5/18 - 5/31 | Week 14 & 15 | | 6/1 - 6/14 | Week 16 & 17 | | 6/15 - 6/28 | Week 18 & 19 | | 6/29 - 7/12 | Week 20 & 21 | | |
Did you feel it? Report it here
A Magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred near Wells, Nevada, on Thursday February 21, 2008, at 6:16 AM PST. The preliminary event location determined by the Nevada Seismological Laboratory is - Latitude: 41.1525N; Longitude: 114.8669W; Depth 6.7 km (4.2 miles). This location is approximately 6 miles (9 km) northeast of Wells. There are reports of significant damage. At this time the earthquake was apparently not associated with a previously mapped fault.
The mechanism of the main shock is “normal faulting”, which is the type of faulting that occurs typically in Nevada and other places where the crust of the earth is extending.
As of 5:00 PM on Feb 21, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory had located eleven aftershocks with magnitude of 4.0 or larger (listed below), and 35 with magnitude 3.0 or larger. The largest of these occurred at 3:57 PM Pacific Standard Time, and had a magnitude of 4.8. The majority of the aftershocks are located southwest of the epicenter of the main shock, and therefore closer to central Wells than the main shock.
Numerous aftershocks can be expected following an earthquake of this size and the local area should be prepared for additional felt earthquakes and potentially damaging earthquake ground motions. Following any moderate sized earthquake, there is a small increase in the probability of a larger earthquake in the local area.
The earthquake was felt throughout northeastern Nevada, southern Idaho, and western Utah.
The data reported here has been reviewed. For more information, contact the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, (775) 784-4975.
