M4.0 Earthquake 165 km WSW of Ferndale, California — December 5, 2024
2024-12-05 23:16:08 UTC (2024-12-05) · approx. 3:16 PM UTC-8 local
On December 5, 2024 at 23:16 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 165 km WSW of Ferndale, California, at a depth of 8.0 km and coordinates 40.2241°, -126.1616°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-126.1616°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Ferndale, California?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 165 km WSW of Ferndale, California on December 5, 2024 at 23:16 UTC had a depth of 8.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: ew1733440590). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 5, 2024). M4.0 Earthquake 165 km WSW of Ferndale, California — December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ew1733440590/