U.S. state profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in California
California has catalogued 885 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 4th of 39 U.S. states), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.9.
California ranks 4th of 39 U.S. states and territories by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active state, averaging about 42 M4+ events a year alongside 94 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend.
- 885
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 94
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.9
- Strongest
- ~42
- M4+ per year
The verdict
California is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 885 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 94 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.
- 1992
- busiest year (6 major events)
- 10 km
- average recorded event depth
- 100%
- of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)
Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate tremors felt but rarely damaging. On the M4+ activity ladder Guam sits immediately above at 2,465 events and Puerto Rico sits immediately below at 297.
ComCat magnitude tape
Event tape CA · California M4+ · 4th/39
California · 885 M4+ · max M7.9 · 94 M6+
- BAND 885
- STRIP 4th/39
- BOOK M7.9
- RANK 94
- MAX near Guam
- M6 100% shallow
Stamps derive from this jurisdiction's USGS ComCat row (M4+ book, rank, peak magnitude, M6+ record, ladder neighbour, depth/peak year), not a hazard forecast. PlainQuake is informational only - not professional advice and not a substitute for official USGS guidance. See our disclaimer. Verify with USGS ComCat → · Read with methodology → · How earthquakes are measured → · Most active U.S. regions → · All state catalog rows → · States ranked →
Observed impact record
What ComCat observed after earthquakes in California
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 65 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 7.0. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.
- MMI observations
- 65
- Average observed MMI
- 7.0
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 8 / 6
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.
Where California sits in the catalog
Rank 4th of 39 tracked U.S. states and territories (90th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Guam sits immediately above at 2,465 events and Puerto Rico sits immediately below at 297.
- Guam - next more active (2,465 M4+)
- Puerto Rico - next less active (297 M4+)
California's M4+ count vs. every tracked state
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
885 Top 10% higher than 90% of 39 states
Each bar is a 100-wide band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) · 2005-present
Major (M6+) earthquakes in California by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 1994
1994: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1995
1995: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1999
1999: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2003
2003: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2005
2005: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2010
2010: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2012
2012: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2014
2014: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2016
2016: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2021
2021: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2022
2022: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2024
2024: 1 major (M6+) events
1
What this shows California's most active year for major earthquakes was 1992 (6 M6+ events). Major-quake counts track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 94 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for California.
M7.0–7.9
11
11.7%
M6.0–6.9
83
88.3%
Depth of major earthquakes
Hypocentral depth of the 94 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 10 km.
Shallow (<70 km)
94
100% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Seismic hazard context
Catalogued counts on this page are history, not a building-code hazard map. California's latest M4+ catalog entry is dated Aug 5, 2026. For the national PGA design-basis tiers, see the seismic risk maps guide or the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model.
Strongest earthquakes in California
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.9 | The 1906 San Francisco, California Earthquake | 11.7 km | Apr 18, 1906 |
| 7.5 | The 1952 Kern County, California Earthquake | 6.0 km | Jul 21, 1952 |
| 7.4 | 123 km W of Big Lagoon, California | 15.0 km | Jan 31, 1922 |
| 7.3 | The 1992 Landers, California Earthquake | -0.1 km | Jun 28, 1992 |
| 7.2 | 153 km W of Big Lagoon, California | 16.0 km | Jun 15, 2005 |
| 7.2 | The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake | 9.9 km | Apr 25, 1992 |
| 7.2 | The 1980 Eureka, California Earthquake | 19.0 km | Nov 8, 1980 |
| 7.1 | The 1923 Humboldt County, California Earthquake | 15.0 km | Jan 22, 1923 |
| 7.1 | The 1999 Hector Mine, California Earthquake | 13.7 km | Oct 16, 1999 |
| 7.1 | 121 km W of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | Sep 1, 1994 |
Significant earthquake record (94 events)
Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in California since 1900, most recent first.
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino, California Earthquake | 10.0 km | Dec 5, 2024 |
| 6.4 | 15km WSW of Ferndale, CA | 17.9 km | Dec 20, 2022 |
| 6.2 | 7km N of Petrolia, CA | 27.0 km | Dec 20, 2021 |
| 6.0 | Antelope Valley, CA | 7.5 km | Jul 8, 2021 |
| 6.6 | 164 km W of Ferndale, California | 8.4 km | Dec 8, 2016 |
| 6.0 | The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake | 11.1 km | Aug 24, 2014 |
| 6.8 | 77 km WNW of Indianola, California | 16.4 km | Mar 10, 2014 |
| 6.3 | 279 km SSW of Avalon, California | 13.0 km | Dec 14, 2012 |
| 6.5 | The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake | 28.7 km | Jan 10, 2010 |
| 6.6 | 196 km W of Ferndale, California | 12.0 km | Jun 17, 2005 |
| 7.2 | 153 km W of Big Lagoon, California | 16.0 km | Jun 15, 2005 |
| 6.5 | 10 km NE of San Simeon, California | 8.4 km | Dec 22, 2003 |
| 7.1 | The 1999 Hector Mine, California Earthquake | 13.7 km | Oct 16, 1999 |
| 6.6 | 126 km W of Ferndale, California | 4.6 km | Feb 19, 1995 |
| 7.1 | 121 km W of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | Sep 1, 1994 |
| 6.1 | 46km E of Big Pine, California | 3.6 km | May 17, 1993 |
| 6.3 | The 1992 Big Bear, California Earthquake | 3.6 km | Jun 28, 1992 |
| 7.3 | The 1992 Landers, California Earthquake | -0.1 km | Jun 28, 1992 |
| 6.6 | 32 km SW of Ferndale, California | 21.7 km | Apr 26, 1992 |
| 6.5 | 30 km WSW of Ferndale, California | 18.8 km | Apr 26, 1992 |
| 7.2 | The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake | 9.9 km | Apr 25, 1992 |
| 6.1 | The 1992 Joshua Tree, California Earthquake | 11.6 km | Apr 23, 1992 |
| 6.0 | 30 km SSW of Scotia, California | 8.3 km | Aug 17, 1991 |
| 6.9 | The 1989 Loma Prieta, California Earthquake | 17.2 km | Oct 18, 1989 |
| 6.6 | The 1987 Superstition Hills, California Earthquake | 11.2 km | Nov 24, 1987 |
| 6.2 | The 1987 Elmore Ranch, California Earthquake | 10.9 km | Nov 24, 1987 |
| 6.4 | The 1986 Chalfant Valley, California Earthquake | 8.8 km | Jul 21, 1986 |
| 6.0 | The 1986 North Palm Springs, California Earthquake | 9.5 km | Jul 8, 1986 |
| 6.1 | 4 km NNW of Round Valley, California | 8.1 km | Nov 23, 1984 |
| 6.7 | 217 km W of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | Sep 10, 1984 |
| 6.2 | The 1984 Morgan Hill, California Earthquake | 8.2 km | Apr 24, 1984 |
| 6.7 | The 1983 Coalinga, California Earthquake | 9.6 km | May 2, 1983 |
| 7.2 | The 1980 Eureka, California Earthquake | 19.0 km | Nov 8, 1980 |
| 6.2 | 9 km SW of Aspen Springs, California | 13.8 km | May 27, 1980 |
| 6.1 | 8 km W of Aspen Springs, California | 11.9 km | May 25, 1980 |
| 6.0 | 7 km ENE of Mammoth Lakes, California | 6.7 km | May 25, 1980 |
| 6.1 | 11 km WNW of Aspen Springs, California | 6.8 km | May 25, 1980 |
| 6.3 | 67 km W of Trinidad, California | 41.8 km | Nov 26, 1976 |
| 6.0 | 105 km W of Ferndale, California | 11.1 km | Mar 1, 1972 |
| 6.6 | 1971 San Fernando Earthquake, California | 8.9 km | Feb 9, 1971 |
| 6.6 | The 1968 Borrego Mountain, California Earthquake | 10.0 km | Apr 9, 1968 |
| 6.2 | 219 km W of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | Aug 9, 1960 |
| 6.1 | 172 km WSW of Crescent City, California | 15.0 km | Feb 9, 1957 |
| 6.4 | 155 km W of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | Oct 11, 1956 |
| 6.4 | The 1954 Eureka-Arcata, California Earthquake | 15.0 km | Dec 21, 1954 |
| 6.8 | 123 km W of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | Nov 25, 1954 |
| 6.4 | The 1954 San Jacinto Fault, California Earthquake | 6.0 km | Mar 19, 1954 |
| 6.2 | 28km NW of Cambria, CA | 6.0 km | Nov 22, 1952 |
| 6.0 | 31 km NW of Shelter Cove, California | 15.0 km | Sep 22, 1952 |
| 7.5 | The 1952 Kern County, California Earthquake | 6.0 km | Jul 21, 1952 |
| 6.0 | 53 km SW of Ferndale, California | 15.0 km | Oct 8, 1951 |
| 6.4 | 169 km W of Crescent City, California | 15.0 km | Mar 24, 1949 |
| 6.0 | 6 km WNW of Verdi, California | 0.0 km | Dec 29, 1948 |
| 6.0 | The 1948 Desert Hot Springs, California Earthquake | 6.0 km | Dec 4, 1948 |
| 6.5 | The 1947 Manix, California Earthquake | 6.0 km | Apr 10, 1947 |
| 6.3 | The 1946 Walker Pass, California Earthquake | 6.0 km | Mar 15, 1946 |
| 6.3 | 191 km WSW of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | May 19, 1945 |
| 6.6 | The 1942 Fish Creek Mountains, California Earthquake | 6.0 km | Oct 21, 1942 |
| 6.5 | 68 km W of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | Oct 3, 1941 |
| 6.3 | 201 km WSW of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | May 13, 1941 |
| 6.8 | 84 km W of Ferndale, California | 15.0 km | Feb 9, 1941 |
| 6.9 | The 1940 Imperial Valley, California Earthquake | 6.0 km | May 19, 1940 |
| 6.0 | 16km WSW of Oasis, CA | 6.0 km | Mar 25, 1937 |
| 6.1 | 123 km WSW of Ferndale, California | 10.0 km | Jun 3, 1936 |
| 6.4 | The 1933 Long Beach, California Earthquake | 6.0 km | Mar 11, 1933 |
| 6.5 | The 1932 Eureka, California Earthquake | 15.0 km | Jun 6, 1932 |
| 6.9 | The 1927 Lompoc, California Earthquake | 10.0 km | Nov 4, 1927 |
| 6.2 | 183 km WNW of Indianola, California | 15.0 km | Dec 10, 1926 |
| 6.3 | 16 km SW of Davenport, California | 10.0 km | Oct 22, 1926 |
| 6.3 | 22 km S of Davenport, California | 15.0 km | Oct 22, 1926 |
| 6.8 | The 1925 Santa Barbara, California Earthquake | 10.0 km | Jun 29, 1925 |
| 6.0 | 72 km WSW of Crescent City, California | 0.0 km | Jun 4, 1925 |
| 6.2 | 3 km SE of San Bernardino, California | 5.0 km | Jul 23, 1923 |
| 7.1 | The 1923 Humboldt County, California Earthquake | 15.0 km | Jan 22, 1923 |
| 6.5 | 1922 Parkfield, California Earthquake | 0.0 km | Mar 10, 1922 |
| 7.4 | 123 km W of Big Lagoon, California | 15.0 km | Jan 31, 1922 |
| 6.0 | 153 km WNW of Indianola, California | 0.0 km | Jan 26, 1922 |
| 6.5 | 52 km WNW of Big Lagoon, California | 15.0 km | Jul 15, 1918 |
| 6.7 | The 1918 San Jacinto, California Earthquake | 10.0 km | Apr 21, 1918 |
| 6.4 | 187 km W of Trinidad, California | 15.0 km | Dec 31, 1915 |
| 6.3 | 237 km WSW of Ferndale, California | 15.0 km | May 6, 1915 |
| 6.5 | Near Morgan Hill, California | 10.0 km | Jul 1, 1911 |
| 6.0 | The 1910 Lake Elsinore, California Earthquake | 0.0 km | May 15, 1910 |
| 6.0 | Near Bishop, California | 0.0 km | May 6, 1910 |
| 6.0 | Offshore Humboldt County, California | 0.0 km | Mar 19, 1910 |
| 6.0 | Near Rio Dell, California | 0.0 km | Oct 29, 1909 |
| 6.0 | Death Valley area, California | 0.0 km | Nov 4, 1908 |
| 6.4 | Northwest of Eureka, California | 0.0 km | Apr 23, 1906 |
| 6.3 | The 1906 Imperial Valley, California Earthquake | 0.0 km | Apr 19, 1906 |
| 7.9 | The 1906 San Francisco, California Earthquake | 11.7 km | Apr 18, 1906 |
| 6.1 | Northwest of Huron, California | 0.0 km | May 26, 1905 |
| 6.2 | Near San Jose, California | 0.0 km | Aug 3, 1903 |
| 6.1 | Near San Jose, California | 0.0 km | Jun 11, 1903 |
| 6.4 | 1901 Parkfield, California Earthquake | 0.0 km | Mar 3, 1901 |
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A California-keyed shuffle of states with a recorded max magnitude. Layout order flips by state so sibling pages do not open the same block first.
Other states in this catalog sample
A second California-keyed shuffle of the full 38-state roster (not ABS-gap nearest neighbors).
According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 317,293 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,444 significant M6+ events (USGS ComCat, 2005-present) -- no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-26.