Honestly, if you're asking is there an earthquake today in california, the answer is almost always yes. It sounds wild to anyone living outside the Golden State, but California averages about 100 quakes every single day. Most of them are so tiny you’d need the world’s most sensitive equipment just to know they happened.
Right now, as of Sunday, January 18, 2026, the ground has indeed been moving. We’ve seen a cluster of activity today, particularly in Southern California and the Geysers area up north. While nothing "Big One" level has hit this morning, several notable jolts have popped up on the USGS sensors that people actually felt.
The Latest Shakes: What Just Happened?
Earlier today, a magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck about 15 kilometers west-southwest of Johannesburg, California. That one hit at 6:54 AM PST. It wasn’t a house-leveler, but it was shallow—only about 4 kilometers deep—which usually means folks nearby felt a sharp little jolt rather than a long rolling motion.
We also saw a magnitude 2.5 near Lytle Creek at 12:20 PM. Lytle Creek is a notorious spot for activity because it sits right near the junction of the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults. If you were sitting quietly in a chair in San Bernardino or Rialto, you might have noticed your monitors wobble for a second.
Up north, the Geysers continue to be the most "talkative" part of the state. There’s been a steady stream of micro-quakes there all morning, ranging from magnitude 0.5 to 3.2. This area is geothermal, so it’s constantly cracking and shifting. It’s basically the drumbeat of California’s crust.
Is This Normal Activity or a Warning Sign?
People always get nervous when they see a "swarm" of quakes in one day. You've probably heard the old myth that "earthquake weather" exists (it doesn't), or that small quakes "release pressure" to prevent a big one.
The truth is a bit more complicated. While small quakes do release energy, you would need thousands of magnitude 3.0 quakes to equal the energy of one magnitude 7.0. They don't really "save" us from the big one. However, most of what we are seeing today in places like Johannesburg and Upper Lake (which had a 2.5 magnitude tremor at 1:09 PM) is considered background seismicity.
Seismologists at the USGS and Caltech monitor these patterns not because they think a 3.6 is a disaster, but because they look for "foreshocks." But here’s the kicker: we only know a quake was a foreshock after the bigger one happens. Statistically, there is about a 5% chance that any given earthquake will be followed by something larger within three days.
Where the Shaking is Happening Today
If you felt something and want to know if it was "real," check these specific areas that saw action in the last 24 hours:
- Johannesburg/Ridgecrest Area: This region has been hyper-active since the 2019 Ridgecrest sequence. The 3.6 today is just part of that long-term settling.
- The Geysers: Constant micro-activity. Most people don't feel these unless they are right on top of the epicenter.
- Moreno Valley/Lytle Creek: A few 1.0 to 2.5 magnitude hits. This is typical for the Inland Empire.
- Upper Lake/Willits: Northern California saw a 2.5 today, following a larger 4.4 magnitude event that happened five days ago near Willits.
How to Stay Ahead of the Next Jolt
Waiting until the shaking starts to look for information is a bad strategy. California has actually become a world leader in Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) technology.
If you don't have the MyShake app on your phone yet, you’re missing out on literally seconds of life-saving time. It’s developed by UC Berkeley and uses the ShakeAlert system. It won't tell you an earthquake is coming tomorrow, but it will scream at you to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" about 10 to 20 seconds before the heavy S-waves hit your specific location.
Android users actually have this built-in to their operating systems now, but iPhone users need the app. It’s worth the 30 seconds it takes to download.
Actionable Steps for Today
Since the ground is clearly active today, use this as a "gentle" reminder. You don't need to panic, but you should be prepared.
First, check your heavy furniture. Is that bookshelf in the bedroom bolted to the wall? If not, that’s your project for this afternoon. Second, make sure your "Go Bag" hasn't expired. If the water in your emergency kit has a "best by" date from 2023, it’s time to swap it out.
Lastly, keep a pair of sturdy shoes under your bed. Most injuries in California earthquakes aren't from falling buildings—they’re from people stepping on broken glass in the dark while trying to run out of the room.
Check the USGS "Did You Feel It?" map if you felt a bump today. Your data helps scientists understand how different soil types in your neighborhood amplify shaking, which eventually leads to better building codes and safer homes for everyone.
Stay aware, but don't let the daily rattles ruin your Sunday. This is just life on the edge of a tectonic plate.
Next Steps:
Download the MyShake app and ensure "Emergency Alerts" are enabled in your phone settings. Then, walk through your home and identify your "safe spots" in each room—usually under a sturdy table or desk away from windows.