Location:

Period:

24 Oct 2024 11:56:12 - 28 Oct 2024 00:42:09 (3 days 12 hours 45 minutes)

Volcanoes in 100km radius:

Ubehebe Craters(55km)

Earthquakes:

5 swarms found nearby.

2003

S20030223.3(7.7km)

22 Feb

2 days 14 hours

42 earthquakes

S20030309.1(7.8km)

9 Mar

1 day 22 hours

36 earthquakes

S20030314.1(5.6km)

13 Mar

20 days 7 hours

657 earthquakes

2015

S20150629.1(18.8km)

29 Jun

22 hours

31 earthquakes

S20151122.1(5.1km)

21 Nov

2 days 4 hours

51 earthquakes

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Seismic Swarm Near Stovepipe Wells, California: October 2024 Activity

A seismic swarm designated S20241025.1 occurred east of Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park, California. The sequence began at 11:56 UTC on 24 October 2024 and concluded at 00:42 UTC on 28 October 2024, spanning 84 hours and 45 minutes. During this interval, 90 earthquakes were recorded, with magnitudes ranging from 0.4 to 4.7 and focal depths primarily between 0 and 15 km.

The largest event reached magnitude 4.7 at a depth of 3 km on 25 October at 08:05 UTC. Additional notable shocks included magnitudes 4.5, 4.1, 3.4, and 3.0, all occurring within the first 24 hours of elevated activity. The majority of events clustered at depths of 3–6 km, consistent with shallow crustal faulting in the region.

Stovepipe Wells lies within the northern Death Valley fault zone, part of the broader Basin and Range extensional province. This area experiences active tectonics driven by northwest-directed dextral shear along the Pacific–North American plate boundary. The local geology features a combination of strike-slip and normal faults that accommodate both extension and lateral motion, resulting in frequent small-magnitude earthquake sequences.

Death Valley’s seismic character reflects long-term crustal thinning and basin development that began in the Miocene. Quaternary fault scarps and offset alluvial fans document recurrent surface-rupturing events on the Death Valley and Furnace Creek faults. Historical records indicate that while large-magnitude mainshock–aftershock sequences are possible, swarm-like behavior with dozens of similar-sized events over several days is also characteristic of the area.

Prior swarms in the immediate vicinity since 2000 comprise five documented episodes: three events in 2003 and two in 2015. The October 2024 sequence represents renewed activity along the same structural trend, highlighting the persistent seismic potential east of Stovepipe Wells.

No damage or injuries were reported from the 2024 swarm. The events were widely felt in the sparsely populated national park but remained below thresholds for significant ground shaking. Continued monitoring by regional seismic networks will help clarify whether additional swarms or a larger mainshock may follow.

References

United States Geological Survey Earthquake Catalog
California Geological Survey Fault Activity Map
National Park Service Death Valley Geology Overview