Back to map
M3.1 Depth: 14.0 km

M3.1 Earthquake near Kern County, California (United States)

UTC time: 2026-01-12 07:02:47 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.1 earthquake was recorded near Kern County, California (United States) on January 12, 2026 at 07:02 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 14 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The event was recorded by ISC. United States: 177 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.2.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 14 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 14 km
Shallow
14 km
14 km — close to the regional average (15.8 km)
Regional average: 15.8 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

  • Ubehebe Craters
    Distance: 259 km ·Maar(s) ·Elevation: 752 m ·Last eruption: -150 ·United States
  • Mammoth Mountain
    Distance: 286 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 3'369 m ·Last eruption: 1260 ·United States
  • Mono-Inyo Craters
    Distance: 305 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 2'796 m ·Last eruption: 1380 ·United States
  • Mono Lake Volcanic Field
    Distance: 327 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 2'121 m ·Last eruption: 1790 ·United States
  • Salton Buttes
    Distance: 374 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: -40 m ·Last eruption: 210 ·United States
  • Soda Lakes
    Distance: 496 km ·Maar(s) ·Elevation: 1'251 m ·United States

Historic earthquake map · United States

Open history map
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

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

Share