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Earthquake in California today
Check recent earthquakes with reported epicentres inside California. Filter by time and magnitude and open the original USGS report.
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Latest earthquakes
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This describes the available catalogue, not an all-clear. Try a longer period or check the latest known event below.
Where earthquakes happen in California
The San Andreas system
The San Andreas Fault and its branches (Hayward, San Jacinto, Elsinore) carry most of the motion between the Pacific and North American plates. Its northern section ruptured in 1906 (M7.9); the southern section last broke near Los Angeles in 1857.
Eastern California and the desert
The Mojave and Owens Valley host large earthquakes away from cities: Landers 1992 (M7.3), Hector Mine 1999 (M7.1) and Ridgecrest 2019 (M7.1).
Mendocino and the north coast
Near Cape Mendocino three plates meet; this is one of the most active areas of the state (Petrolia 1992, M7.2; offshore Eureka 1980, M7.2). Further north, the Cascadia subduction zone threatens the coast with tsunamis.
Major earthquakes
The strongest earthquakes in California in the USGS catalogue since 1900 (local dates):
- 7.9Mw
- 7.5Mw
- 7.3Mw
- 7.1Mw
- 6.9Mw
- 6.7Mw
Earthquake early warning in California
ShakeAlert sends warnings to phones in California through Wireless Emergency Alerts and the MyShake app. Close to the epicentre the warning can arrive after shaking starts.
During shaking: drop, cover and hold on. Do not run outside; most injuries happen from falling objects and glass.
Frequently asked questions
Was there an earthquake in California today?
The first panel shows the latest earthquake inside California in the catalogue, in Pacific Time. California records small earthquakes almost every hour.
What is the chance of a big earthquake in California?
The USGS UCERF3 forecast gives a high probability of an M6.7+ earthquake in California within 30 years. Dates cannot be predicted.
What was the strongest earthquake in California?
Since 1900, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake (M7.9). The 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake was of similar size.
Latest known event
Latest known event · UTC
Sources and coverage
Source: USGS · GeoNames · CC BY 4.0 · Natural Earth
The location is the reported epicentre. Offshore context is separate from a position inside a country. Small-event coverage varies by region.
Historical context
The historical catalogue includes USGS M6+ from 1900, M4.5+ from 1970 and delivered events since the project began. It is not a complete record of all small earthquakes.