US EditionPreliminary Magnitude 4.9 Earthquake Hits Santa Cruz County
USGS said the epicenter was near Boulder Creek and estimated a 56% chance of a magnitude 3 or higher aftershock within a week.
- A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck near Boulder Creek early Thursday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey, with shaking felt throughout Santa Cruz County and the South Bay.
- The USGS initially reported a magnitude 5.1 before revising downward to 4.6, while Monterey County Emergency Services notes only 429 earthquakes above 4.0 magnitude have occurred in the area historically.
- No injuries or property damage were immediately reported following CAL FIRE CZU building inspections; the USGS forecasts a 2% chance of aftershocks larger than magnitude 5 over the next seven days.
- Residents received an emergency ShakeAlert notification during the event; officials advise those in low-lying coastal areas like Capitola and Rio Del Mar to move to higher ground if strong shaking occurs.
- Experts emphasize it is only a matter of time until the next major earthquake strikes; residents can prepare by securing heavy furniture and assembling a go bag with essentials.
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90 Articles
Thursday Morning What's Up: Overnight Earthquake Wakes Up Many Bay Area Residents
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Magnitude 4.6 earthquake jolts Northern California, residents report shaking homes for miles
An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 awakened residents with a jolt early Thursday, with many saying they felt their homes shake for a few seconds in a 100-mile (161-kilometer) stretch, including San Francisco.
Magnitude 4.6 earthquake shakes Central California
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck California’s Central Coast early Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake hit near Boulder Creek, Calif., at 1:41 a.m. PCT, with an initial magnitude of 4.9 and a depth of more than 6.7 miles, USGS said. The town, an unincorporated community in Santa Cruz County with…
4.9 magnitude earthquake rattles Northern California
Earthquake richter scale (Gary S Chapman/Getty Images) (BOULDER CREEK, Calif) — A 4.9 magnitude earthquake shook Northern California early Thursday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter struck at a depth of 10.9 km (6.77 miles) near Boulder Creek, California, approximately 65 miles southeast of San Francisco. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All …
4.6 earthquake jolts Northern California awake
BOULDER CREEK, Calif. — An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 in Northern California awakened residents with a jolt early Thursday, with many saying they felt their homes shake for a few seconds in a 100-mile stretch, including San Francisco.
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