Earthquakes in Oakland, California
Last earthquake: 2 days ago · 81 in past 30 days · Largest: M3.1 · Population 433K
Last updated: October 4, 2026 at 12:04 PM UTC · Data: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
No significant earthquakes recorded near Oakland recently. Last M2.5+: 19 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
- 81
- Last significant (M2.5+)
- 19 days ago
- 2026 total (M1.0+)
- 828
The Oakland area averages about 8 magnitude 4.0+ earthquakes per year and has recorded 81 earthquakes (M1.0+) within 50 km in the past 30 days. The most recent significant earthquake (M3.0+) was a magnitude 3.1 event 22 days ago 9 km ENE of Blackhawk, 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
Recent Significant Earthquakes Near Oakland
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 81 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater in our tracker. The remaining 2 fell in the M2.5–M3.9 band. By depth: 81 shallow (<70 km). 44 of the epicenters were offshore. 13 events produced at least one felt report, totalling 703 citizen submissions to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Focal depths ranged from -0.3 km to 17.3 km. 68 of the 81 solutions have been reviewed by a USGS seismologist; the remaining 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026-09-27 2026-09-27 01:21:09 UTC | 2.4md | 1 km SSW of Novato, CA 38.097°, -122.575° | 8.0 km | - | - | - | Auto | USGS → |
The USGS recorded this magnitude 2.4 earthquake 1 km SSW of Novato, CA at 01:21 UTC on September 27, 2026. See the M2.4 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-26 2026-09-26 17:41:27 UTC | 2.3md | 4 km WNW of Orinda, CA 37.889°, -122.224° | 3.9 km | 2 | - | - | Auto | USGS → |
This magnitude 2.3 event was detected 4 km WNW of Orinda, CA on September 26, 2026, with origin time 17:41 UTC. This very shallow event was close enough to the surface that even modest magnitudes can produce significant local shaking. See the M2.3 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-26 2026-09-26 04:56:47 UTC | 2.2md | 1 km E of Port Costa, CA 38.045°, -122.172° | 7.7 km | 65 | - | - | Auto | USGS → |
September 26, 2026 brought a magnitude 2.2 earthquake 1 km E of Port Costa, CA, logged at 04:56 UTC. The event was offshore. See the M2.2 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-22 2026-09-22 03:24:38 UTC | 2.3md | 3 km SE of Pacifica, CA 37.598°, -122.465° | 8.8 km | 54 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 2.3 seismic event took place 3 km SE of Pacifica, CA on September 22, 2026 at 03:24 UTC. The event was offshore. See the M2.3 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-20 2026-09-20 00:16:09 UTC | 2.0md | 2 km NE of Pacifica, CA 37.627°, -122.473° | 6.6 km | 8 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
At 00:16 UTC on September 20, 2026, a magnitude 2.0 tremor occurred 2 km NE of Pacifica, CA. 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 M2.0 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-16 2026-09-16 14:54:16 UTC | 2.1md | 3 km W of Dublin, CA 37.704°, -121.972° | 9.9 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 2.1 earthquake was recorded 3 km W of Dublin, CA on September 16, 2026 at 14:54 UTC. Coming 65 hours after a magnitude 2.5 earthquake in the immediate vicinity, it is most likely an aftershock of that larger rupture. The event was offshore. See the M2.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-15 2026-09-15 20:00:31 UTC | 2.3md | 3 km W of Dublin, CA 37.706°, -121.970° | 10.0 km | 3 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Reports of a magnitude 2.3 earthquake 3 km W of Dublin, CA came in on September 15, 2026 at 20:00 UTC. This event falls inside the aftershock decay of a nearby magnitude 2.5 earthquake that occurred about 46 hours earlier. The event was offshore. See the M2.3 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-14 2026-09-14 13:47:28 UTC | 3.0ml | 9 km SW of Brentwood, CA 37.875°, -121.810° | 16.9 km | 52 | - | - | Auto | USGS → |
A magnitude 3.0 earthquake was recorded 9 km SW of Brentwood, CA on September 14, 2026 at 13:47 UTC. This event falls inside the aftershock decay of a nearby magnitude 3.1 earthquake that occurred about 54 hours earlier. The event was offshore. See the M3.0 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-14 2026-09-14 00:44:10 UTC | 2.5md | 1 km ESE of Woodside, CA 37.428°, -122.245° | 5.2 km | 179 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On September 14, 2026, Oakland registered a magnitude 2.5 earthquake 1 km ESE of Woodside, CA at 00:44 UTC. In the 72 hours after this event, the USGS recorded 5 smaller earthquakes within 20 km, consistent with an ongoing aftershock sequence rooted here. See the M2.5 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-13 2026-09-13 22:06:06 UTC | 2.5md | 6 km ENE of Blackhawk, CA 37.850°, -121.847° | 16.3 km | 5 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Seismographs logged a magnitude 2.5 earthquake 6 km ENE of Blackhawk, CA with origin time 22:06 UTC on September 13, 2026. Coming 39 hours after a magnitude 3.1 earthquake in the immediate vicinity, it is most likely an aftershock of that larger rupture. See the M2.5 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-12 2026-09-12 07:25:55 UTC | 3.1ml | 9 km ENE of Blackhawk, CA 37.863°, -121.821° | 15.9 km | 257 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On September 12, 2026 at 07:25 UTC, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake struck 9 km ENE of Blackhawk, CA. In the 72 hours after this event, the USGS recorded 4 smaller earthquakes within 20 km, consistent with an ongoing aftershock sequence rooted here. See the M3.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-10 2026-09-10 22:02:52 UTC | 2.1md | 3 km WNW of Dublin, CA 37.708°, -121.971° | 9.6 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On September 10, 2026 at 22:02 UTC, a magnitude 2.1 earthquake struck 3 km WNW of Dublin, CA. In the 72 hours after this event, the USGS recorded 8 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. | ||||||||
2026-09-10 2026-09-10 22:00:38 UTC | 2.1md | 3 km W of Dublin, CA 37.706°, -121.971° | 10.1 km | 1 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Seismographs logged a magnitude 2.1 earthquake 3 km W of Dublin, CA with origin time 22:00 UTC on September 10, 2026. In the 72 hours after this event, the USGS recorded 8 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. | ||||||||
2026-09-10 2026-09-10 21:27:18 UTC | 2.1md | 3 km W of Dublin, CA 37.706°, -121.970° | 10.4 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On September 10, 2026, Oakland registered a magnitude 2.1 earthquake 3 km W of Dublin, CA at 21:27 UTC. In the 72 hours after this event, the USGS recorded 9 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. | ||||||||
2026-09-10 2026-09-10 02:52:23 UTC | 2.5md | 2 km ESE of Oakland, CA 37.785°, -122.207° | 9.9 km | 64 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
At 02:52 UTC on September 10, 2026, a magnitude 2.5 tremor occurred 2 km ESE of Oakland, CA. 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 M2.5 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, 81 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 19 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: October 4, 2026 at 12:04 PM UTC