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 no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2.5 | Oct 26, 13:10 UTC | 5 km | 4 km SE of Aromas, CA |
| M2.5 | Oct 25, 14:05 UTC | 2 km | 16 km NNE of Milford, Utah |
| M2.7 | Oct 25, 01:35 UTC | 1 km | 32 km WSW of Tecopa, CA |
| M2.5 | Oct 24, 20:39 UTC | 2 km | 7 km W of Cobb, CA |
| M2.5 | Oct 24, 18:42 UTC | -0 km | 17 km SW of Toms Place, CA |
| M2.6 | Oct 24, 17:59 UTC | 3 km | 15 km NNE of Milford, Utah |
| M2.9 | Oct 24, 10:54 UTC | 2 km | 19 km SW of Toms Place, CA |
| M2.5 | Oct 23, 16:43 UTC | 2 km | 17 km W of Alberto Oviedo Mota, B.C., MX |
| M3.4 | Oct 23, 05:38 UTC | 10 km | 70 km W of Ferndale, CA |
| M3.0 | Oct 22, 21:58 UTC | 6 km | 15 km S of Tres Pinos, CA |
| M3.1 | Oct 22, 04:18 UTC | -1 km | 23 km WSW of Gustine, CA |
| M3.2 | Oct 22, 01:43 UTC | 11 km | 14 km SE of Petrolia, CA |
| M3.1 | Oct 21, 15:55 UTC | 6 km | 39 km SSW of Likely, CA |
Notable recent activity
An M3.4 earthquake struck 70 km W of Ferndale, CA at 05:38 UTC on Oct 23 at a depth of 10 km.
An M3.2 earthquake struck 14 km SE of Petrolia, CA at 01:43 UTC on Oct 22 at a depth of 11 km.
An M3.1 earthquake struck 23 km WSW of Gustine, CA at 04:18 UTC on Oct 22 at a depth of -1 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.