On December 4, 2025, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed a false ShakeAlert earthquake warning reached parts of California and Nevada, drawing attention from officials and residents. The earthquake alert reported a magnitude 5.9 event near Dayton, Nevada and was distributed as a USGS ShakeAlert to areas including San Francisco. Officials confirmed within an hour that no earthquake had occurred, identifying the notice as a false alarm. The alert was detected at 8:06 a.m. local time; some 911 centers reported heavy call volumes, and Carson City began preparations. Since 2019, ShakeAlert has issued more than 170 accurate alerts with few false positives. Five California representatives led by Rep. Kevin Mullin sought answers from USGS. Scientists corrected faulty sensor data overnight, and the episode has led to calls for algorithmic improvements.
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