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Earthquakes · Bay Area, California
Was that an earthquake near the Bay Area?
Latest earthquakes near the Bay Area, live from the USGS
No earthquakes of magnitude 1 or more were recorded near the Bay Area in the last 24 hours, as of 7:00 a.m. PST. The most recent of magnitude 2.5 or more was M2.6, 1 km ENE of Aromas, CA, on Nov 12, 11:40 a.m. PST.
Strongest in the last 30 days: M3.0, 20 km WSW of Gustine, CA, Oct 21, 9:18 p.m. PDT.
Strongest in the last 12 months: M4.6, 1 km SE of Boulder Creek, CA, Apr 2.
Gold dots are the last 24 hours. Rows marked "auto" are first, automatic solutions; the USGS revises them, often within the hour.
Last 24 hours, magnitude 1 and up
None near the Bay Area in the last 24 hours.
Last 7 days, magnitude 2.5 and up
Last 30 days, magnitude 2.5 and up
| Magnitude | Where | When | Depth | Felt reports | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M2.6 auto | 1 km ENE of Aromas, CA | -0 km (-0 mi) | — | USGS · Felt it? | |
| M2.5 | 2 km N of Pleasant Hill, CA | 13 km (8 mi) | 39 | USGS · Felt it? | |
| M2.5 | 9 km E of Gilroy, CA | 5 km (3 mi) | 2 | USGS · Felt it? | |
| M2.6 | 3 km ESE of Berkeley, CA | 10 km (6 mi) | 114 | USGS · Felt it? | |
| M2.9 | 28 km WSW of Westley, CA | 1 km (1 mi) | — | USGS · Felt it? | |
| M2.7 | 2 km ENE of Pacifica, CA | 6 km (4 mi) | 527 | USGS · Felt it? | |
| M2.6 | 15 km E of Seven Trees, CA | 8 km (5 mi) | 8 | USGS · Felt it? | |
| M2.5 | 4 km SE of Aromas, CA | 5 km (3 mi) | 6 | USGS · Felt it? | |
| M3.0 | 20 km WSW of Gustine, CA | 1 km (0 mi) | 9 | USGS · Felt it? |
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Did we just have an earthquake near me?
Check the list at the top of this page. It reads the U.S. Geological Survey's live feed every few minutes. Automatic locations for most US quakes appear within minutes, and small or remote ones can take longer. If you felt shaking that isn't listed yet, wait a few minutes and refresh, or report it to the USGS "Did You Feel It?" survey.
The last 12 months
143 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more near the Bay Area in the last 12 months. The largest was M4.6, 1 km SE of Boulder Creek, CA, on Apr 2. The busiest week began Jan 30, with 32 quakes.
Biggest earthquakes near the Bay Area
The five largest of the last 50 years in the USGS catalogue, within 62 miles.
| Magnitude | Where | Date | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| M6.9 | The 1989 Loma Prieta, California Earthquake | October 17, 1989 | USGS |
| M6.2 | The 1984 Morgan Hill, California Earthquake | April 24, 1984 | USGS |
| M6.0 | The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake | August 24, 2014 | USGS |
| M5.8 | The 1980 Livermore, California Earthquake | January 24, 1980 | USGS |
| M5.8 | The 1979 Coyote Lake, California Earthquake | August 6, 1979 | USGS |
Why does the Bay Area get earthquakes?
The San Francisco Bay Area sits astride several branches of the San Andreas Fault system. The San Andreas itself runs down the Peninsula and just off San Francisco; the Hayward Fault runs beneath Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward and Fremont on the east side of the bay; and the Calaveras Fault runs east of San Jose. Because so many people live on or near it, the Hayward Fault is rated one of the most dangerous in the country.
The 1906 earthquake, about magnitude 7.9, broke the San Andreas for some 470 km and started fires that destroyed much of San Francisco. The M6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake of 17 October 1989, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, dropped part of the Bay Bridge and collapsed the Cypress Viaduct in Oakland. San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose all feel small quakes several times a year.
Last reviewed 4 November 2026. Sources: USGS: the Hayward Fault · Northern California Earthquake Data Center.
What magnitude earthquake can you feel?
People close to the epicentre often feel quakes from about magnitude 2.5 to 3, especially indoors on upper floors. Below that, most go unnoticed. How strong it feels depends on distance, depth and the ground under you, so a shallow M3 nearby can feel stronger than a deep M4 farther away.
How long do aftershocks last?
Aftershocks are most frequent in the first hours and days after a quake and then fade, though after a large one they can go on for months or even years. Most are smaller than the main shock, but a damaging one is possible. For significant US quakes, the USGS publishes an aftershock forecast with the chances for the coming days and weeks.
What should I do during an earthquake?
Drop, cover and hold on: get down on your hands and knees, cover your head and neck under a sturdy table, and hold on until the shaking stops. If you're in bed, stay there and protect your head with a pillow. Don't run outside during shaking, and keep away from windows. Doorways aren't safer in most modern homes. See Ready.gov and the Earthquake Country Alliance for more.
Can earthquakes be predicted?
No. Scientists can't predict the time, place and size of a particular earthquake. They can estimate the chance of a large quake in a region over decades, which is how building codes and insurance are set. On the West Coast, the ShakeAlert system can give seconds of warning once a quake has started, but that's detection, not prediction.
Tsunami status
No tsunami warning, advisory or watch was in effect at our last check of the National Tsunami Warning Center and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (7:00 a.m. PST).
Official messages: tsunami.gov. If you are on the coast and feel a strong or long quake, move to high ground without waiting for a message.
Nearby
Other hazards near Bay Area
How this page works
The lists read the U.S. Geological Survey's real-time feeds: every quake of the past day and every quake of magnitude 2.5 or more of the past month, refreshed every few minutes. The 12-month history and the 50-year list come from the USGS earthquake catalogue (ComCat), read once a day and once a week. A quake counts here when its epicentre is within 62 miles (100 km) of Bay Area, whichever state it is in.
First magnitudes and locations are automatic and are often revised within hours; rows marked "auto" haven't been reviewed by a seismologist yet. Felt reports are the number of "Did You Feel It?" responses the USGS has so far. Times are local (America/Los Angeles).
Gods Eyes is not an early warning system and is not affiliated with any government agency. In an emergency, follow local officials and call 911.
Earthquakes: data courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey · Map and place names: Natural Earth (public domain). All data sources.