2.9md
US · Place
Earthquake in San Francisco today: quakes nearby
Check whether an earthquake was reported near San Francisco today. Change the search radius to compare nearby epicentres, magnitudes and depths.
San Francisco · US · GeoNames 5391959 · Search radius: 100 km
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Latest earthquakes
UpdatedUpdates every minute while this page is visible
No known events in this window
This describes the available catalogue, not an all-clear. Try a longer period or check the latest known event below.
The last 30 days
- Latest recorded earthquake
- M 2.9Diablo Grande
- Strongest in 30 days
- M 2.9Diablo Grande
- Earthquakes in the catalogue
- 56USGS
- Magnitude 4.5 or larger
- 0M ≥ 4.5
Earthquakes within 100 km of San Francisco. Data from USGS, updated automatically. This is not a warning; official alerts come from national authorities. Times are shown in Pacific Time (PST/PDT).
Earthquake risk in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Andreas and Hayward faults
The San Andreas Fault runs just offshore of San Francisco; its 1906 rupture (M7.9) and the fires that followed destroyed much of the city. The Hayward Fault runs beneath Berkeley, Oakland and Fremont. The USGS estimates a 72% chance of at least one M6.7 or larger earthquake in the Bay Area between 2014 and 2043.
Loma Prieta 1989
The 17 October 1989 earthquake (M6.9) in the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 95 km from the city, collapsed part of the Bay Bridge and the Cypress Street Viaduct in Oakland during the World Series.
Fill and soft soils
The Marina District, South of Market and parts of the bay shore sit on artificial fill and bay mud that amplify shaking and can liquefy. That is why the Marina was hit hard in 1989.
Major earthquakes
Notable earthquakes near San Francisco in the USGS catalogue (local dates):
- 7.9Mw
- 6.9Mw
- 6.0Mw
- 6.2ML
If an earthquake strikes in San Francisco
During shaking: drop, cover and hold on. Do not run outside; most injuries happen from falling objects and glass.
ShakeAlert can send a warning seconds before shaking to phones in California through Wireless Emergency Alerts and the MyShake app; close to the epicentre the alert may arrive late.
Frequently asked questions
Was there an earthquake in San Francisco today?
The first panel shows the latest earthquake within 100 km of San Francisco in the catalogue, in Pacific Time. The USGS and the Northern California Seismic System publishes the official record; magnitudes can differ slightly.
I felt shaking in San Francisco but it is not listed — why?
Small earthquakes can take a few minutes to appear, and an earthquake felt in San Francisco may be more than 100 km away. Widen the radius, compare the time, and check the USGS “Did You Feel It?” map.
When will the next big earthquake hit San Francisco?
It cannot be predicted. The USGS forecast gives a 72% probability of an M6.7 or larger earthquake in the Bay Area in the 30 years from 2014.
Latest known event
Latest known event · America/Los_Angeles
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.
San Francisco · US · America/Los_Angeles · 827,526 · GeoNames 5391959