Earthquakes in Oakland, California
Last earthquake: 13 hours ago · 35 in past 30 days · Largest: M2.6 · Population 433K
Last updated: August 12, 2026 at 05:13 PM UTC · Data: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
No significant earthquakes recorded near Oakland recently. Last M2.5+: 20 days ago.
Quick Facts — Earthquakes in Oakland
- Population
- 433K
- Seismic activity level
- very high
- Nearest major fault
- Hayward Fault (0.5 km)
- Largest recorded nearby
- M6.9 (1989 Loma Prieta earthquake)
- 30-year probability M6.7+
- 72% (UCERF3)
- Earthquakes past 30 days
- 35
- Last significant (M2.5+)
- 20 days ago
- 2026 total (M1.0+)
- 678
The Oakland area averages about 8 magnitude 4.0+ earthquakes per year and has recorded 35 earthquakes (M1.0+) within 50 km in the past 30 days. The largest event in the past 30 days was a magnitude 2.6 event 2 km NNE of San Leandro, CA.
Oakland sits in the very high category for U.S. seismic activity. The largest earthquake in or near Oakland since records began was the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, which struck approximately 80 km south of the city.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey's UCERF3 model, there is approximately a 72% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake within 100 km of Oakland in the next 30 years, and a 51% probability of a magnitude 7.0 or greater event. The largest credible earthquake predicted for the Oakland area is a magnitude 7.0 event on the Hayward Fault, which lies 0.5 km from downtown Oakland. Source: UCERF3 (Field et al. 2015), Table 6 — Hayward Fault Zone (32% individual fault probability)
Oakland sits in 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. Beyond the Hayward Fault, secondary fault systems include the Calaveras Fault and San Andreas Fault (Peninsula). View all earthquakes in California.
2026 Activity vs Historical Average
Earthquake Map — Oakland Area
Fault Lines Near Oakland
| Fault Name | Type | Distance | Max Credible Mag | Last Major Rupture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward Fault | right-lateral strike-slip | 0.5 km | M7.0 | 1868 (M6.8) |
| Calaveras Fault | right-lateral strike-slip | 25 km | M7.0 | 1984 (M6.2 Morgan Hill) |
| San Andreas Fault (Peninsula) | right-lateral strike-slip | 25 km | M7.9 | 1906 (M7.9) |
| Rodgers Creek Fault | right-lateral strike-slip | 50 km | M7.1 | paleoseismic ~1700 CE |
Recent Earthquakes (Last 30 Days)
Dataset at a glance — Oakland
Over the past 30 days, Oakland has recorded 35 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater in our tracker. The remaining 1 fell in the M2.5–M3.9 band. By depth: 35 shallow (<70 km). 18 of the epicenters were offshore. 4 events produced at least one felt report, totalling 421 citizen submissions to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Focal depths ranged from -0.2 km to 15.0 km. 20 of the 35 solutions have been reviewed by a USGS seismologist; the remaining 15 are automatic and may be refined.
Each row in the table below includes a narrative summary of the event, ordered by time. Use the column headers to sort or filter by magnitude.
| Time ↓ | Mag ↕ | Location ↕ | Depth ↕ | Felt ↕ | MMI | Alert | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 days ago 2026-08-08 22:18:26 UTC | 2.1md | 2 km SSW of Alamo, CA 37.834°, -122.045° | 12.8 km | 2 | - | - | Auto | USGS → |
A magnitude 2.1 earthquake was recorded 2 km SSW of Alamo, CA on August 8, 2026 at 22:18 UTC. In the 72 hours after this event, the USGS recorded 3 smaller earthquakes within 20 km, consistent with an ongoing aftershock sequence rooted here. See the M2.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-23 2026-07-23 21:20:23 UTC | 2.0md | 2 km ENE of Berkeley, CA 37.877°, -122.254° | 8.8 km | 2 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Seismographs logged a magnitude 2.0 earthquake 2 km ENE of Berkeley, CA with origin time 21:20 UTC on July 23, 2026. Coming 20 hours after a magnitude 2.6 earthquake in the immediate vicinity, it is most likely an aftershock of that larger rupture. See the M2.0 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-07-23 2026-07-23 00:52:11 UTC | 2.6md | 2 km NNE of San Leandro, CA 37.740°, -122.148° | 4.3 km | 416 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On July 23, 2026 at 00:52 UTC, a magnitude 2.6 earthquake struck 2 km NNE of San Leandro, CA. It is the largest earthquake currently listed for Oakland over the past 30 days. See the M2.6 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
Common Questions About Earthquakes in Oakland
How often do earthquakes happen in Oakland?
Oakland experiences frequent earthquake activity. The area averages 70 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater per year, with 0.9 reaching magnitude 5.0 or higher. In the past 30 days, 35 earthquakes (M1.0+) have been recorded within 50 km of the city.
What was the biggest earthquake to hit Oakland?
The largest earthquake in or near Oakland since records began was the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, which struck approximately 80 km south of the city.
What is the earthquake risk in Oakland?
Earthquakes cannot be predicted with precision. However, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates there is approximately a 72% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake within 100 km of Oakland in the next 30 years. The most likely source is the Hayward Fault, which has a maximum credible magnitude of 7.0.
What fault lines are near Oakland?
The Hayward Fault runs approximately 0.5 km from Oakland and is the most significant local seismic threat, with a maximum credible magnitude of 7.0. Other nearby faults include the Calaveras Fault (25 km), the San Andreas Fault (Peninsula) (25 km), the Rodgers Creek Fault (50 km).
Was there an earthquake in Oakland today?
No earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater have been recorded near Oakland in the past 24 hours. The most recent M2.5+ event was 20 days ago.
About This Page
This page is maintained by Earthquake Tracker, an independent seismic activity reporting service. Earthquake data is sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program and updated every hour. Probability estimates use the USGS Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) for California cities. Historical earthquake data is sourced from the USGS Historical Earthquake Catalog. Fault information comes from the USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database and SCEC Community Fault Model.
Last data refresh: August 12, 2026 at 05:13 PM UTC