Recent earthquakes in California
California is defined by the San Andreas Fault system, the boundary where the Pacific and North American plates slide past each other. This transform boundary and its many related faults make the state the most seismically active in the contiguous United States. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake (M7.9) and the 1994 Northridge earthquake (M6.7) are among its most consequential events. In the past 24 hours, California has recorded 2 earthquakes, the largest an M4.3 (8 km ESE of Cloverdale, CA).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2.5 | Jul 29, 02:40 UTC | 4 km | 8 km ESE of Cloverdale, CA |
| M4.3 | Jul 29, 02:40 UTC | 6 km | 8 km ESE of Cloverdale, CA |
| M2.5 | Jul 28, 22:15 UTC | 10 km | 44 km WSW of Carlsbad, CA |
| M2.5 | Jul 28, 09:35 UTC | 18 km | 32 km WNW of Petrolia, CA |
| M2.5 | Jul 27, 23:49 UTC | 10 km | 7 km N of Beaumont, CA |
| M3.0 | Jul 27, 16:13 UTC | 5 km | 17 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada |
| M3.4 | Jul 27, 16:13 UTC | 12 km | 18 km SE of Silver Springs, Nevada |
| M2.7 | Jul 27, 15:29 UTC | 1 km | 3 km ENE of The Geysers, CA |
| M2.8 | Jul 27, 15:29 UTC | 1 km | 3 km ENE of The Geysers, CA |
| M3.0 | Jul 27, 08:13 UTC | 5 km | 12 km ESE of Gilroy, CA |
| M2.5 | Jul 27, 06:29 UTC | 3 km | 3 km NW of The Geysers, CA |
| M2.5 | Jul 25, 11:31 UTC | 6 km | 3 km E of St. Helena, CA |
| M3.0 | Jul 25, 01:27 UTC | 5 km | 10 km SW of Niland, CA |
| M2.9 | Jul 25, 01:16 UTC | 21 km | 34 km NE of Ensenada, B.C., MX |
| M2.5 | Jul 24, 23:20 UTC | -2 km | 7 km NE of Lake Davis, CA |
| M2.5 | Jul 24, 22:38 UTC | 5 km | 11 km ESE of Gilroy, CA |
| M2.6 | Jul 24, 19:45 UTC | 7 km | 25 km SSW of Hawthorne, Nevada |
| M2.6 | Jul 24, 15:47 UTC | 7 km | 24 km SSW of Hawthorne, Nevada |
| M2.7 | Jul 24, 09:35 UTC | 7 km | 75 km ENE of Tonopah, Nevada |
| M3.2 | Jul 23, 16:24 UTC | 15 km | 7 km S of Brawley, CA |
| M2.6 | Jul 23, 09:13 UTC | 3 km | 18 km NNW of Panguitch, Utah |
| M2.7 | Jul 23, 09:03 UTC | 11 km | 8 km S of Brawley, CA |
| M2.8 | Jul 23, 08:55 UTC | 16 km | 8 km S of Brawley, CA |
| M3.2 | Jul 23, 08:49 UTC | 16 km | 8 km NNE of Imperial, CA |
| M2.6 | Jul 23, 08:23 UTC | 5 km | 3 km W of Circleville, Utah |
Notable recent activity
An M4.3 earthquake struck 8 km ESE of Cloverdale, CA at 02:40 UTC on Jul 29 at a depth of 6 km.
An M3.6 earthquake struck 7 km S of Brawley, CA at 07:31 UTC on Jul 23 at a depth of 9 km.
An M3.5 earthquake struck 16 km NE of Yerington, Nevada at 17:20 UTC on Jul 22 at a depth of 14 km.
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes does California get?
California experiences hundreds of thousands of earthquakes a year detected by instruments, though only a few hundred are felt and a handful cause damage. The San Andreas system and its associated faults keep the state constantly active.
Is California going to have a big earthquake?
Scientists consider a major earthquake on the San Andreas or a related fault, sometimes called 'the Big One,' likely within the coming decades. Forecasts estimate a high probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater event in both the Los Angeles and San Francisco regions over 30 years.
What was the biggest earthquake in California?
The April 18, 1906 San Francisco earthquake, magnitude 7.9, is the most significant in California's history, rupturing nearly 480 km of the San Andreas Fault. The 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake was of similar size on the southern San Andreas.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.