Waking up to the house shaking is a very specific kind of NorCal alarm clock. Honestly, it never gets less startling. If you felt a quick jolt or some swaying while sipping your coffee this morning, you aren't imagining things. A minor earthquake today near San Jose CA definitely happened, reminding everyone that we live on some of the most restless dirt in the country.
At 6:54 AM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake struck roughly 14 miles east-northeast of the East Foothills. It wasn't a "big one," but it was enough to make the windows rattle and send a few people running to check their Twitter (or X) feeds to see if it was just them. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) pinned the depth at about 5.4 miles. That's relatively shallow, which explains why so many people in Alum Rock, Milpitas, and even parts of downtown San Jose felt a sharp, distinct thump.
What actually happened with the earthquake today near San Jose CA?
Basically, the epicenter was located near the Calaveras Fault zone, a major branch of the San Andreas system. While a 3.1 magnitude quake is technically "minor" on the Richter scale, its proximity to densely populated areas like the South Bay makes it feel much bigger than a similar quake out in the desert.
The shaking was reported across a wide swath of Santa Clara County. Residents from Evergreen to North San Jose described the sensation as a quick "pulse" rather than a long, rolling motion. It makes sense. When a quake is shallow and close, the primary waves hit you fast and hard before they have time to dissipate.
There haven't been any reports of damage or injuries, which is standard for something this size. You might see some dust shaken off old ceiling fans or a picture frame slightly askew, but that’s about the extent of it. It’s more of a geological nudge than a disaster.
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Recent seismic trends in the South Bay
Living in San Jose means you’re essentially neighbors with several fault lines. We've actually been seeing a bit of a cluster lately. Just earlier this week, a magnitude 2.2 was recorded near Blackhawk, and last month saw a string of small tremors near San Ramon.
- San Jose Activity: Over 800 quakes have hit the immediate area in the last year.
- Today's Jolt: The 3.1 near East Foothills is the most significant in the last 24 hours.
- Surrounding Areas: Small tremors near Pacifica and Winters have also been popping up on the USGS map today.
Is this "swarming" activity a bad sign? Not necessarily. Seismologists like those at the Berkeley Seismology Lab often point out that small quakes are just a fact of life here. They don't necessarily "relieve" pressure for a big one, but they don't always predict an immediate disaster either. They’re just... happening. It’s the Earth doing its thing.
The science behind the shake
Most of the quakes we feel in San Jose are related to the Hayward, Calaveras, or San Andreas faults. Today's event was likely a result of the Calaveras fault creeping. This fault is famous for "aseismic creep," where the ground moves slowly and steadily without always causing big breaks, but every so often, it gets stuck and snaps.
When that snap happens at a depth of 9 kilometers (roughly 5.5 miles), the energy reaches the surface almost instantly. You don't get the long warning "rumble" that people in the Central Valley might feel from a distant quake. You just get the jolt.
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Why we get so many small quakes lately
You might feel like the Bay Area is "acting up" more than usual. In reality, our detection technology is just getting better. The USGS and UC Berkeley have installed hundreds of new high-sensitivity sensors over the last decade. We are now catching magnitude 1.0 and 1.5 tremors that would have gone totally unnoticed twenty years ago.
That being said, the Calaveras fault is one of the more active ones in the region. It’s capable of producing quakes up to magnitude 7.0, so even a 3.1 is a good reminder to check your heavy furniture. If that bookshelf isn't bolted to the wall, today was your warning shot.
What to do after a jolt like this
Don't panic, but don't just ignore it either. A minor earthquake is the perfect excuse to do a quick safety audit. Honestly, most of us forget about earthquake kits until the power goes out or things start falling off shelves.
First, check your "Did You Feel It?" report on the USGS website. This citizen science data is actually super helpful for researchers to map how different soils in San Jose—like the soft clay in the valley floor—amplify shaking.
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Second, take five minutes to look at your water heater. Is it strapped? In a larger quake, unstrapped water heaters are a leading cause of post-quake fires because they tip over and sever gas lines.
Lastly, make sure your phone's emergency alerts are actually turned on. Many people disable them because of the loud noise, but in a larger event, that five-second lead time from the MyShake app can be the difference between getting under a table or getting hit by falling glass.
Actionable next steps for San Jose residents
- Check the MyShake App: Ensure it’s updated and has location permissions. It provides a few seconds of warning for quakes above magnitude 4.5.
- Secure Heavy Furniture: Focus on top-heavy items like wardrobes or TVs that could tip in a larger magnitude 5.0+ event.
- Review Your Gas Shutoff: Know where your gas meter is and keep a wrench nearby. Only shut it off if you actually smell gas after a quake.
- Refill Your Water Stash: Most experts recommend one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. If your "emergency" water is five years old, it’s time to rotate it.
Today's earthquake near San Jose was a minor event, but in the world of seismology, there's no such thing as a "meaningless" quake. Each one provides data, and more importantly, each one gives us a chance to be a little better prepared for whatever the tectonic plates decide to do next.