In July of 2019 Searles Valley was impacted by a series of earthquakes , the principal events ( with magnitudes of 6.4 , 5.4 , and 7.1 ) occurring from 12 to 18 kilometers west on the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake . The earthquake series started at 10:02 A.M. July 4th with 4.0 earthquake 4 kilometers southwest of Searles Valley . At 10:33 A.M. a third earthquake struck , the biggest of the series – a 6.4 magnitude 12 kilometers southwest of Searles Valley . The earthquake was felt throughout the area and Southern California , including Los Angeles , and Nevada , including Las Vegas . The earthquake was over 5 miles deep . Over 100 aftershocks impacted Searles Valley and nearby Ridgecrest , California . This third quake was followed by an even larger 7.1 magnitude quake , subsequently designated the main quake in the series , on Friday , July 5 , 2019 , at approximately 8:18 PM . Approximately 6:36 PM , 7-22-19 the valley received a 3.9 quake
series of earthquakes
2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes
Searles Valley, California