M2.0 Depth: 2.9 km

M2.0 Earthquake near Monterey County, California (United States)

UTC time: 2026-01-21 09:45:33 UTC Local time:

About this earthquake

On January 21, 2026 at 09:45 UTC, a magnitude M2.0 earthquake occurred near Monterey County, California (United States). The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 3 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Events of this size typically go unnoticed.

The event was recorded by EMSC. United States: 153 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.6.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 2.9 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 2.9 km
Shallow
2.9 km
2.9 km — shallower than the regional average (15.9 km)
Regional average: 15.9 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Volcanoes nearby

  • Mammoth Mountain
    Distance: 225 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 3'369 m ·Last eruption: 1260 ·United States
  • Mono-Inyo Craters
    Distance: 241 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 2'796 m ·Last eruption: 1380 ·United States
  • Mono Lake Volcanic Field
    Distance: 258 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 2'121 m ·Last eruption: 1790 ·United States
  • Ubehebe Craters
    Distance: 304 km ·Maar(s) ·Elevation: 752 m ·Last eruption: -150 ·United States
  • Clear Lake Volcanic Field
    Distance: 374 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 1'439 m ·United States
  • Soda Lakes
    Distance: 415 km ·Maar(s) ·Elevation: 1'251 m ·United States

Historic earthquake map · United States

Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · United States

View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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