M4.4 Earthquake 9 km ESE of Willits, CA — January 13, 2026
2026-01-13 21:10:54 UTC (2026-01-13) · approx. 1:10 PM UTC-8 local
Felt by 414 people across surrounding communities. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.6 (moderate). Aftershock of the M5.6 mainshock.
On January 13, 2026 at 21:10 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 9 km ESE of Willits, CA, at a depth of 8.5 km and coordinates 39.3922°, -123.2513°. The earthquake was reported felt by 414 peopleacross surrounding communities, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 4.6 (moderate). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 82 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 487, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Redwood Valley (population 1,729).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 64 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 676 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.6 mainshock that occurred 16 days ago 11 km N of Redwood Valley, CA. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 24 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
Nearest Populated Places
What the Shaking Felt Like
At MMI 4.6 (moderate), people in the most strongly affected areas would have experienced: Mild shaking, similar to a passing truck. Hanging objects swing. Glasses and dishes may rattle. Not commonly felt outdoors.
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 414 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 81,637 |
| MMI 4 | light | 22,325 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 474 |
Earthquake Details
-123.2513°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Willits, CA?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 9 km ESE of Willits, CA on January 13, 2026 at 21:10 UTC had a depth of 8.5 km. It was felt by 414 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 4.6 (moderate). For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 39.3922°, -123.2513°, which is 9 km ESE of Willits, CA. The nearest populated place is Redwood Valley (population 1,729). View all earthquakes in California.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.6 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.6 mainshock that occurred earlier 11 km N of Redwood Valley, CA. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.4 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.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: nc75295231). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 13, 2026). M4.4 Earthquake 9 km ESE of Willits, CA — January 13, 2026. Retrieved July 7, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/nc75295231/