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M2.5 Depth: 4.6 km

M2.5 Earthquake near Santa Barbara County, California (United States)

UTC time: 2026-08-17 12:08:23 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M2.5 earthquake was recorded near Santa Barbara County, California (United States) on August 17, 2026 at 12:08 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 5 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. 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: 167 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.9.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 4.6 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 4.6 km
Shallow
4.6 km
4.6 km — shallower than the regional average (15.4 km)
Regional average: 15.4 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: 367 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 3'369 m ·Last eruption: 1260 ·United States
  • Mono-Inyo Craters
    Distance: 385 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 2'796 m ·Last eruption: 1380 ·United States
  • Ubehebe Craters
    Distance: 388 km ·Maar(s) ·Elevation: 752 m ·Last eruption: -150 ·United States
  • Mono Lake Volcanic Field
    Distance: 406 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 2'121 m ·Last eruption: 1790 ·United States
  • Salton Buttes
    Distance: 473 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: -40 m ·Last eruption: 210 ·United States

Historic earthquake map · United States

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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.

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