2.6

M2.6 Earthquake 1 km ESE of Woodside, CAOctober 23, 2025

2025-10-23 23:45:00 UTC (2025-10-23) · approx. 3:45 PM UTC-8 local

Felt by 262 people across surrounding communities.

MagnitudeM2.6(md)
Time23:45 UTC3:45 PM UTC-8
Depth5.2 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates37.427°, -122.245°
Felt by262DYFI responses
StatusAutomatic (preliminary)

On October 23, 2025 at 23:45 UTC, a magnitude 2.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 1 km ESE of Woodside, CA, at a depth of 5.2 km and coordinates 37.4273°, -122.2448°. This earthquake was detected by 66 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 186, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 2.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 124 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 38 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

The epicenter is located in California, a region characterized by the San Andreas transform fault system, where the Pacific and North American plates slide past each other at roughly 46 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the San Andreas Fault. View all earthquakes in California.

Learn more: San Andreas Fault · Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 37.43°, -122.24°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 262 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M2.6 earthquake near 1 km ESE of Woodside, CA

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
2.6 md
Depth
5.2 km
shallow crustal
Location
37.4273°N
-122.2448°E
Felt Reports
262
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
3.1
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
nc75253656
Event Type
earthquake
Status
Automatic
Significance
186
Stations Used
66
Azimuthal Gap
83.0°
Min Station Distance
0.024°
RMS Residual
0.12 sec
Last Updated
2026-01-15 22:46:49 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 2.6 earthquake near Woodside, CA?

The magnitude 2.6 earthquake that struck 1 km ESE of Woodside, CA on October 23, 2025 at 23:45 UTC had a depth of 5.2 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 37.4273°, -122.2448°, which is 1 km ESE of Woodside, CA. View all earthquakes in California.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 2.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Has California had earthquakes this big before?

The largest recorded earthquake in California was the M7.9 Fort Tejon earthquake of January 9, 1857. Today's magnitude 2.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

What should I do after an earthquake?

If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: nc75253656). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, October 23, 2025). M2.6 Earthquake 1 km ESE of Woodside, CAOctober 23, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/nc75253656/