California Earthquake Today — Live Map & Recent Quakes
Track California earthquake today in real time with live map data and latest tremors updated every 60s from USGS. California sits on the San Andreas Fault and is one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the US.
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Live California Earthquake Map
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Earthquakes in California
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About Earthquake Activity in California
California is the most earthquake-conscious state in the contiguous United States, traversed by the world-famous San Andreas Fault system and thousands of associated active crustal faults. The state experiences roughly 10,000 to 15,000 seismic events per year, though only a small fraction are strong enough to be felt by residents.
Why does California experience earthquakes?
California lies directly atop the active transform plate boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate is sliding northwestward past the North American Plate at an average rate of 35 to 50 millimeters per year. Because the plates do not slide smoothly, tectonic friction locks the faults, storing colossal kinetic strain over decades and centuries. When the fault rupture threshold is breached, the stored energy is unleashed as sudden, violent ground shaking. Urban faults like the Hayward Fault in the Bay Area and the San Jacinto Fault in Southern California pose direct hazards to millions of people.
Key Facts About California Seismicity
~39 million
USGS / CGS
USGS California & California Geological Survey
- San Andreas Fault
- Hayward Fault
- San Jacinto Fault
- Garlock Fault
Right-lateral transform boundary between Pacific and North American Plates
- 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & FireM7.9
- 1989 Loma Prieta EarthquakeM6.9
- 1994 Northridge EarthquakeM6.7
Frequently Asked Questions About Earthquakes in California
Expert answers to common questions about seismic risks, fault lines, and earthquake activity in California.
Check our live California tracker above for immediate details on tremors across Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, and the Northern Coast. The feed updates every minute with verified USGS data.
'The Big One' refers to an anticipated magnitude 7.8 or greater earthquake along the southern segment of the San Andreas Fault (from the Salton Sea through the Coachella Valley to Los Angeles), which has not experienced a major rupture in over 300 years and has accumulated immense tectonic stress.
The San Andreas Fault is the longest (over 800 miles), but the Hayward Fault running through the densely populated East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont) and the San Jacinto Fault in Southern California are considered among the highest risk for destructive urban shaking.
California residents and visitors can download the free MyShake app (developed by UC Berkeley) or ensure 'Emergency Alerts' are turned on in iOS or Android settings to receive USGS ShakeAlert notifications seconds before shaking begins.
Pull safely to the shoulder away from overpasses, bridges, overhead signboards, and power lines. Set the emergency brake, remain inside the vehicle until shaking stops, and listen to local emergency radio broadcasts before attempting to drive.