Back to map
M1.2 Depth: 1.2 km

M1.2 Earthquake near Kern County, California (United States)

UTC time: 2026-01-17 21:51:56 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M1.2 earthquake was recorded near Kern County, California (United States) on January 17, 2026 at 21:51 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 1 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Events of this size typically go unnoticed.

The event was recorded by USGS. United States: 207 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.5.

Details

Magnitude
M1.2
Depth
1.2 km
UTC time
2026-01-17 21:51:56 UTC
Local time
—
Country
United States
State
California
City
Kern County
County
Kern County
Source
usgs
Coordinates
35.48300, -118.43717
Temperature
19.4°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 1.2 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 1.2 km
Shallow
1.2 km
1.2 km — shallower than 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: 192 km ·Maar(s) ·Elevation: 752 m ·Last eruption: -150 ·United States
  • Mammoth Mountain
    Distance: 245 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 3'369 m ·Last eruption: 1260 ·United States
  • Mono-Inyo Craters
    Distance: 263 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 2'796 m ·Last eruption: 1380 ·United States
  • Mono Lake Volcanic Field
    Distance: 285 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 2'121 m ·Last eruption: 1790 ·United States
  • Salton Buttes
    Distance: 363 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: -40 m ·Last eruption: 210 ·United States
  • Soda Lakes
    Distance: 451 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