M0.6 Depth: 5.1 km

M0.6 Earthquake near Monterey County, California (United States)

UTC time: 2026-05-21 04:21:39 UTC Local time:

About this earthquake

A magnitude M0.6 earthquake was recorded near Monterey County, California (United States) on May 21, 2026 at 04:21 UTC. With a focal depth of about 5 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this small magnitude are usually barely noticeable and cause no damage.

The data is provided by USGS and cross-checked across seismological networks. United States: 195 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M5.4.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 5.1 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 5.1 km
Shallow
5.1 km
5.1 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: 229 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 3'369 m ·Last eruption: 1260 ·United States
  • Mono-Inyo Craters
    Distance: 245 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 2'796 m ·Last eruption: 1380 ·United States
  • Mono Lake Volcanic Field
    Distance: 263 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 2'121 m ·Last eruption: 1790 ·United States
  • Ubehebe Craters
    Distance: 297 km ·Maar(s) ·Elevation: 752 m ·Last eruption: -150 ·United States
  • Clear Lake Volcanic Field
    Distance: 393 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 1'439 m ·United States
  • Soda Lakes
    Distance: 423 km ·Maar(s) ·Elevation: 1'251 m ·United States

Historic earthquake map · United States

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Country statistics · United States

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

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