However, there are also many other faults including some found directly underneath the State's major cities including L.A. This creates a complex system of very active fault systems, the most prominent being the San Andreas Fault, which runs for roughly 750 mi (1,200 km) through California. 33-37 millimeters (1.3-1.5 in) per year on average. The Pacific Plate is moving northwest relative to the North American plate, at a rate of approx. In the area of California, it is called a transform boundary, because the movement of the two plates is mostly a side-wise sliding alongside each other. Why does California have so many quakes?Ĭalifornia is located near the boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. Magnitude 5+ events are about once every 2 months, and strong quakes from magnitude 6+ occur on average once every 4-5 months. Quakes of magnitude 4+ occur about once every 5 days on average. Typically there are 1-2 quakes of magnitudes greater than 3 every day. Most of them are too small to be felt by humans, although there is usually one or two that are. Recent quakes above magnitude 1.0 in or near California, USA (updated ) Past 24 hoursġ,618 quakes 212 quakes M2+ 30 quakes M3+ 1 quake M4+ĥ,380 quakes 777 quakes M2+ 109 quakes M3+ 11 quakes M4+ 2 quakes M5+Ģ1,721 quakes 3,027 quakes M2+ 398 quakes M3+ 39 quakes M4+ 5 quakes M5+ 1 quake M6+Ĭalifornia Earthquake FAQ How many quakes occur in California every day?Ĭalifornia has about 10-15 quakes every day. 6.4 on Tuesday, at 2:34 am (GMT -8) – North Pacific Ocean, 23 mi SW of Eureka, Humboldt County, California, USA

5.5 on Thursday, at 4:19 pm (GMT -7) – Nevada, 28 mi SW of Susanville, Lassen County, California, USA 4.4 on Saturday, at 8:44 pm (GMT -7) – 7.6 mi SE of Ukiah, Mendocino County, California, USA 3.9 on Tuesday, at 7:58 am (GMT -7) – North Pacific Ocean, 20 mi SW of Fortuna, Humboldt County, California, USA 2.4 | 14 mi SE of Hollister, San Benito County, California, USA. 0.9 | 3 Km E of Colton, CA - Strongest quake today: Mag. There were also 92 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel. In the past 24 hours, California had 2 quakes of magnitude 2.0 or above.

Cal quake map