A series of earthquakes rattled south-central Nebraska on Sunday, culminating in three distinct tremors felt by residents across the region. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the first and most significant quake—a magnitude 4.1—at 12:59 p.m. , located approximately three miles east of Cowles, south of Hastings.
The temblor originated at a depth of about two miles and was felt as far away as Lincoln, roughly 86 miles distant. Residents described the experience as a faint rumbling or a rattling of their homes.
“I was looking at my phone sitting at the table and I thought at first it was the fridge or something,” said Richard Webb, one of several residents who spoke with 10/11 News.
A second earthquake, registering magnitude 2.6, followed at 2:30 p.m. near the same location, this time at a depth of approximately 3.5 miles. A third earthquake, also magnitude 2.6, was recorded at 8:45 p.m. , positioned slightly further south than the initial two, with a depth just over three miles.
Some residents initially mistook the shaking for more mundane causes. David Crable recounted, “Pretty much what happened I was laying in bed and all the sudden I felt shaking. I thought it was my dog just shaking behind me but then I thought, there was no way that was my dog.”
The USGS continues to monitor the area for any additional seismic activity. While earthquakes are relatively uncommon in Nebraska, they are not unprecedented, and this sequence serves as a reminder of the region’s geological variability.
