Shaking spreads from Nevada into California, startling residents with widespread tremors.

A string of earthquakes has sent shockwaves from Nevada deep into California, leaving residents startled on Wednesday.

The tremors began near Silver Springs, Nevada, where a cluster of smaller quakes preceded a major 4.8 magnitude event.

This activity occurred at 10:23 a.m. PT, striking an area already seeing an uptick in seismic movement over recent weeks.

At least four significant tremors were recorded near Carson City, with magnitudes ranging from 2.6 to 4.8.

The shaking was so widespread that the US Geological Survey confirmed it was felt outside Sacramento, California.

One resident in Colfax, roughly 140 miles west of the epicenter, shared their experience on social media.

Local reactions were mixed, with some fearing volcanic activity despite officials stating the region's volcanoes are dormant.

"It's the same area that's been rocking us the past week. It's not stopping," one Facebook post read.

Others described the physical sensation vividly, noting their homes shook for several seconds after the strongest quake.

"It felt stronger than the last," noted a resident in Yerington, while another said the motion excited their dogs.

The events took place in the Basin and Range Province, where the Earth's crust is slowly stretching and thinning.

This geological process creates frequent faults, and movement along these fractures produces the earthquakes detected by scientists.

The epicenter sits within the Walker Lane seismic zone, a highly active area where tectonic plates pull apart the land.

While human activities like mining or geothermal operations can trigger quakes, most of these tremors are naturally occurring.

Nevada ranks as the nation's third-most seismically active state, trailing only California and Alaska.

The swarm includes dozens of smaller earthquakes detected alongside the main events, complicating the picture for locals.

Officials continue to monitor the situation, noting that while volcanic features exist here, they are not immediate threats.

The fear remains high as the ground continues to move across hundreds of miles of western United States.