The July 17, 1941 earthquake

M5.0near Nixon, Nevada

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake, centred in Pershing County. The 96th strongest in Nevada’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 6.4 on April 24, 1914.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.0; local magnitude (ml)
Depth: —; Not recorded
Local time: Thursday, July 17, 1941; 19:53 PST; 03:53 UTC on Jul 18, 1941
Epicentre: 40.00°N, 119.00°W; In Pershing County
In Nevada’s record: 96th; strongest of 8,110 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 5; counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis1364 (“35 km ENE of Nixon, Nevada”). The USGS event page carries the ShakeMap, felt reports and the official summary.

Counties and cities within 50 miles

Distance from the epicentre to each county boundary (zero when inside) and to each city centre.

Counties

Pershing CountyNV · inside
Washoe CountyNV · 11.9 mi
Churchill CountyNV · 11.9 mi
Lyon CountyNV · 18.4 mi
Storey CountyNV · 29.7 mi

Cities, largest first

SparksNV · 48.0 mi
FernleyNV · 31.7 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

90 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

Earlier earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 50 miles, strongest first

April 24, 1914M6.4

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog. Local time is the time zone of the county nearest the epicentre. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them.