Waking up and checking the news for "was there earthquake today in california" has basically become a ritual for anyone living along the San Andreas. Honestly, if the ground isn't at least slightly vibrating, it almost feels like the state is holding its breath. Today, Friday, January 16, 2026, follows that familiar pattern of small, persistent shakers that remind us exactly where we live.
Most people didn't feel a thing. That’s the reality of California seismicity; we have thousands of tiny "micro-earthquakes" that only the high-end sensors at Caltech or USGS ever notice. But if you were near the coast or down in the desert early this morning, you might have felt a slight nudge.
The Morning Rundown: Today's Seismic Activity
So, was there earthquake today in california? Yes, but nothing that’s going to knock your coffee off the table. As of early Friday morning, the most notable activity has been a series of small tremors scattered from the Geysers in the north down to the San Jacinto area in the south.
For example, at 2:33 AM PST, a micro-earthquake with a magnitude of 0.7 was recorded about 4 km north-northwest of San Jacinto. About an hour later, at 3:28 AM, a slightly larger 2.2 magnitude event hit 16 km east of Ocotillo Wells. These aren't "big" by any stretch of the imagination, but they are part of a larger pulse of activity moving through the state's complex fault systems.
Earlier, just before midnight shifted us into Friday, a 2.5 magnitude quake was detected near Ferndale at 2:06 AM. This area, near the Mendocino Triple Junction, is arguably the most seismically "nervous" part of the entire state.
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Why You Might Be Seeing "Oregon" in the Headlines
If you’re scrolling through your feed and seeing reports of a much larger quake—specifically a 6.1 magnitude—that wasn't actually in California. It happened off the coast of Bandon, Oregon, early this morning.
The reason it matters to Californians is that it occurred along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This massive fault stretches from Vancouver Island all the way down to Cape Mendocino in Northern California. When Oregon shakes that hard, seismologists in Eureka and Redding start paying very close attention.
Yesterday’s Residual Energy: Morongo Valley and Beyond
To understand today's rhythm, you kinda have to look at what happened late yesterday, January 15. A 3.4 magnitude earthquake rattled Morongo Valley at 7:28 PM. This one was shallow—only about 8 km deep—which means people in Desert Hot Springs and Yucca Valley definitely got a little jolt.
It followed a "mini-swarm" near the Salton Sea earlier that day. We saw magnitudes of 4.1 and 3.5 near Holtville. When you see these clusters, it’s usually the earth adjusting its weight along the Southern San Andreas system. It’s not necessarily a "pre-shock" for something bigger, but it's certainly a reminder that the Southern section hasn't had a major release of energy in a very long time.
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New Research: The "Ghost" Plates Under Northern California
Interestingly, today also marks the release of some pretty wild news regarding the Mendocino Triple Junction. Scientists from the USGS and UC Davis just published a study in Science explaining why this area is so unpredictable.
Using data from thousands of micro-earthquakes—like the ones we saw this morning—they discovered the region is made of five moving pieces instead of three. They've identified two "ghost" fragments of crust being dragged underneath the North American plate.
- The Pioneer Fragment: A slab of ancient rock being pulled north.
- The North American Breakoff: A piece of our own plate that snapped off and is currently sinking.
This explains why quakes like the 1992 Petrolia magnitude 7.2 happen at such weird, shallow depths. The "surface" of the subduction zone is actually much closer to our feet than we thought.
Is This "The Big One"?
In a word: No.
Seismologists like Dr. Lucy Jones have spent years trying to calm the collective nerves of Californians by explaining that small quakes don't necessarily lead to big ones. In fact, there's only about a 5% chance that any given earthquake will be followed by a larger one within the next few days.
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Most of what we are seeing today—the 0.7s and 2.2s—is just the "background noise" of a tectonic plate moving at the speed your fingernails grow.
Actionable Next Steps for Today
Since the ground is relatively quiet right now, it’s actually the best time to do the boring stuff you usually ignore.
- Check your "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" spot: If you're in an office, is there a sturdy desk? If you're at home, are there heavy frames over your bed?
- Update your MyShake App: If you haven't checked the settings lately, make sure it’s actually authorized to send you alerts. It saved a lot of people those precious few seconds during the recent Inland Empire tremors.
- Secure the "Ammo": No, not that kind. I mean the heavy stuff on your shelves. Museum wax (Quake Hold) is cheap and keeps your favorite vase from becoming a projectile.
The USGS aftershock forecast for the current Pacific Northwest activity suggests a low probability (less than 1%) of a magnitude 7+ following this morning's Oregon quake, but California remains a separate, though connected, beast. Keep your shoes near the bed and your water bottles full. The earth is moving; we’re just along for the ride.
Current Status: Minor seismic activity recorded in San Jacinto, Ocotillo Wells, and the Geysers. No major damage or tsunami warnings are in effect for the California coast following the Oregon 6.1 event.