A strong earthquake shook Northern California on Wednesday morning, sending alerts to phones across the Bay Area, Sacramento and nearby communities before many people even felt the ground move. The USGS reported the quake as magnitude 5.6 near Willits and Redwood Valley in Mendocino County, after early warning systems initially estimated it closer to 6.0. The shaking knocked items off shelves, caused power outages and led to reports of injuries, but officials said there were no immediate reports of major structural damage.

Where Was The California Earthquake Today?

The earthquake struck in Mendocino County in Northern California, near Willits and Redwood Valley.

According to the Associated Press, the epicenter was about 7 miles northwest of Willits and about 5 miles deep. The area is roughly 140 miles northeast of San Francisco, and the quake was felt across the region, including Fort Bragg on the coast.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the epicenter was close to the Russian River and about 15 miles north of Ukiah, 30 miles southeast of Fort Bragg, 70 miles northwest of Santa Rosa and 116 miles northwest of San Francisco.

How Strong Was The Northern California Earthquake?

The quake was reported as magnitude 5.6.

Many people searched “6.0 earthquake” because early alerts and initial calculations estimated a stronger quake. The Los Angeles Times reported that the USGS earthquake early warning system was activated and initially calculated that a magnitude 6 earthquake had occurred before the number was updated.

This is normal in fast-moving earthquake alerts. Early warning systems prioritize speed, so the first number can change as more seismic data comes in.

Was There An Earthquake Near San Francisco?

Yes, the earthquake was felt in parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, but the epicenter was not in San Francisco.

The quake was centered far north of the Bay Area, in Mendocino County. However, alerts reached many phones in the Bay Area because the shaking was strong enough to trigger California’s earthquake warning system. The Los Angeles Times reported that weak shaking was felt in parts of Sonoma County, including Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Petaluma, while the epicenter was about 116 miles northwest of San Francisco.

So if people in San Francisco received an alert but did not feel much shaking, that matches the expected pattern.

Was There An Earthquake Near Sacramento?

People in the Sacramento region also received alerts, but the earthquake was not centered in Sacramento.

NOAA’s tsunami information statement listed the earthquake location as 115 miles northwest of Sacramento, California.

This explains why many people searched “earthquake Sacramento” or “earthquake near me.” The alert reached a wide area, but the strongest shaking was closer to Willits, Redwood Valley and Ukiah.

Did ShakeAlert Go Out?

Yes. California’s earthquake early warning system sent alerts before the shaking reached many people.

The California Governor’s Office said the state’s earthquake early warning system gave more than one million Californians advance notice before the 5.6 quake near Willits. Cal OES also said hundreds of thousands more likely received wireless alerts through devices with built-in earthquake alert software.

The Associated Press reported that nearly 657,000 alerts were sent through the MyShake app alone, with total alert deliveries expected to exceed one million across all systems.

Was There A Tsunami Warning?

No. There was no tsunami warning, advisory, watch or threat in effect.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued an information statement after the earthquake and said there was no tsunami warning, advisory, watch or threat for the U.S. West Coast, Alaska or British Columbia.

This is an important point because “tsunami warning” often trends after large California earthquakes. In this case, officials did not issue a tsunami threat.

Was There Damage Or Injuries?

Officials reported some injuries and power outages, but no immediate major structural damage.

The Associated Press reported that hospitals had reported some injuries, though details were not immediately available. More than 6,000 residents in six towns near the epicenter were affected by power outages, and officials urged people to stay off highways and roads so crews could inspect damage and make repairs.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the quake knocked items off shelves and out of cupboards, while state officials said there were no early reports of major damage to highways or major public infrastructure in Willits or Ukiah.

What Areas Felt The Strongest Shaking?

The strongest reported shaking was near Willits, Redwood Valley and nearby parts of Mendocino County.

The Los Angeles Times reported that “strong” shaking was felt in Willits, while “moderate” shaking was felt in Ukiah. Lighter shaking was reported in places such as Fort Bragg, Lakeport, Clearlake and Cloverdale, and weaker shaking reached farther areas including Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Petaluma.

The quake was felt widely across Northern California, but the most noticeable impact appears to have been near the epicenter.

Were There Aftershocks?

Yes, aftershocks were reported after the main quake.

The Associated Press reported that three other quakes under magnitude 2.7 struck near the epicenter within an hour. Veteran California seismologist Lucy Jones said aftershocks were likely but would probably stay on the low side.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the USGS estimated a 6% chance of an aftershock of magnitude 5 or greater within the next week.

Aftershocks are common after a quake of this size, so residents near the epicenter should stay alert and avoid damaged structures.

Is This The Biggest Earthquake In The Area?

For this region, yes, it was unusually strong.

The Associated Press reported that the rural Northern California area experienced its strongest earthquake since 1940. Seismologist Lucy Jones said the area does have earthquakes, but they are usually smaller than this one.

That is why this quake attracted so much attention even though California regularly experiences smaller tremors.

What Should People Do After The Earthquake?

People near the affected area should check for hazards and follow local emergency guidance.

After a strong quake, residents should check for injuries, look for gas leaks, avoid damaged buildings, stay away from downed power lines and be ready for aftershocks. If roads are being inspected, avoid unnecessary travel so crews can work safely.

Officials in Mendocino County asked people to stay off highways and roads near the impacted area while crews inspected damage and made repairs.

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Final Takeaway

The California earthquake today was a magnitude 5.6 quake centered near Willits and Redwood Valley in Mendocino County. It triggered ShakeAlert warnings across Northern California, including the Bay Area and Sacramento region, because the early warning system initially estimated the quake close to magnitude 6.0.

The strongest shaking was near Willits, Redwood Valley and Ukiah. Some injuries and power outages were reported, but officials said there were no immediate reports of major structural damage. No tsunami warning, advisory, watch or threat was issued.