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 3 earthquakes, the largest an M3.4 (9 km SW of Brentwood, CA).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2.7 | Sep 12, 07:34 UTC | 19 km | 5 km E of Lennox, CA |
| M3.4 | Sep 12, 07:25 UTC | 18 km | 9 km SW of Brentwood, CA |
| M2.5 | Sep 12, 05:46 UTC | 5 km | 6 km SSW of Ojai, CA |
| M2.5 | Sep 12, 02:42 UTC | 0 km | 24 km SW of Petrolia, CA |
| M2.6 | Sep 11, 10:19 UTC | 8 km | 6 km W of Edwards Air Force Base, CA |
| M2.5 | Sep 10, 23:03 UTC | 0 km | 1 km N of The Geysers, CA |
| M3.1 | Sep 10, 20:36 UTC | 4 km | 10 km WNW of Cobb, CA |
| M3.0 | Sep 10, 20:36 UTC | 5 km | 10 km WNW of Cobb, CA |
| M2.5 | Sep 10, 02:52 UTC | 10 km | 2 km ESE of Oakland, CA |
| M3.6 | Sep 10, 01:24 UTC | 20 km | 21 km W of Petrolia, CA |
| M3.8 | Sep 10, 01:24 UTC | 20 km | 20 km WSW of Petrolia, CA |
| M2.7 | Sep 9, 19:12 UTC | 0 km | 12 km WNW of Cobb, CA |
| M2.6 | Sep 9, 17:19 UTC | 1 km | 11 km WNW of Cobb, CA |
| M2.5 | Sep 9, 12:09 UTC | 8 km | 28 km WSW of Olancha, CA |
| M2.5 | Sep 9, 04:57 UTC | 2 km | 16 km NE of Milford, Utah |
| M2.7 | Sep 8, 21:15 UTC | 2 km | 39 km NE of Big Bear City, CA |
| M2.8 | Sep 8, 12:45 UTC | 7 km | 16 km WSW of Johannesburg, CA |
| M3.7 | Sep 7, 21:44 UTC | 24 km | 36 km E of Hydesville, CA |
| M2.9 | Sep 6, 15:33 UTC | 3 km | 10 km ENE of Coso Junction, CA |
| M3.1 | Sep 6, 07:13 UTC | 16 km | 4 km SSE of Compton, CA |
Notable recent activity
An M3.8 earthquake struck 20 km WSW of Petrolia, CA at 01:24 UTC on Sep 10 at a depth of 20 km.
An M3.7 earthquake struck 36 km E of Hydesville, CA at 21:44 UTC on Sep 7 at a depth of 24 km.
An M3.6 earthquake struck 21 km W of Petrolia, CA at 01:24 UTC on Sep 10 at a depth of 20 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.