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USGS Retracts False Nevada Alert; Local Quakes Reported

PUBLISHED Dec 2, 2025, 12:13 PM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 8

Center 75%

Right 25%

Sources: 8

Carson City, Nevada — The U.S. Geological Survey issued and then retracted a ShakeAlert Thursday after automated systems reported a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Dayton that did not occur. MyShake and other alert systems sent warnings to thousands across California and Nevada around 8:06 a.m., and the USGS removed the event from its public maps about an hour later. Officials said the ShakeAlert EEW notification was incorrect and deleted the event while investigators examine the cause of the false alert. Separate small magnitude quakes were reported this week in New York and California. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Yusra M. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

1944: A magnitude 5.8 event impacted Cornwall and Massena, historic regional quake.
Nov 23: A magnitude 2.6 quake was recorded near Lake Pillsbury, California.
This week (Sunday): A preliminary magnitude 3.1 earthquake occurred near Willows at 6:56 a.m.
Last night: A magnitude 1.6 earthquake struck about five miles from Massena at 7:16 p.m.
Dec 4 (Thursday): USGS issued a M5.9 Nevada ShakeAlert at ~8:06 a.m., deleted and canceled it roughly an hour later while investigating.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 8
Right Leaning:: 2
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 6
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 75%, Right 25%

Who Benefited

Emergency management agencies, seismic monitoring teams, and alert-system developers benefited by identifying weaknesses and beginning corrective investigations after the false ShakeAlert.

Who Impacted

Residents who received false alerts experienced alarm and potential disruptions, and public confidence in automated earthquake early-warning systems suffered.