Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake Rattles Northern California

Tremors felt across Bay Area after quake hits Santa Cruz County

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:24pm by Ben Kaplan

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A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck near Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County early Thursday morning, with the shaking felt by residents throughout the Bay Area. The United States Geological Survey reported the quake hit around 1:41 a.m. with a depth of about 6.2 miles, and said aftershocks are likely in the coming days.

Why it matters

Northern California is prone to seismic activity, and this latest quake serves as a reminder for residents to be prepared for potential aftershocks and larger tremors. The USGS forecast indicates a 60% chance of a magnitude 3.0 or higher quake within the next week, underscoring the need for earthquake preparedness.

The details

The initial 4.9 magnitude quake was later downgraded to 4.6 by the USGS. Residents near the epicenter in Boulder Creek, as well as in cities across the Bay Area including San Ramon, Fremont, Burlingame and Los Gatos, reported feeling strong shaking. Weaker tremors were felt as far away as Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley and other East Bay cities.

  • The earthquake struck around 1:41 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • The USGS forecast indicates up to 9 magnitude 3.0 or higher aftershocks could occur within the next week.

The players

United States Geological Survey

The federal agency responsible for monitoring and reporting on seismic activity in the United States.

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What they’re saying

“There will likely be smaller aftershocks within the next week, with up to 9 magnitude 3 or higher aftershocks. Magnitude 3 and higher aftershocks are large enough to be felt nearby.”

— USGS

“Our forecast changes as time passes, particularly during the first 72 hours after a mainshock. These changes happen because of three things: the usual decrease of aftershocks as time goes on, larger aftershocks that trigger more activity, and changes in forecast modeling due to ongoing data collection.”

— USGS

What’s next

The USGS says residents should expect possible aftershocks in the following days and be prepared to Drop, Cover and Hold on if additional shaking occurs.

The takeaway

This earthquake serves as a reminder for Northern California residents to stay vigilant and have an emergency preparedness plan in place, as the region is prone to seismic activity that can produce damaging aftershocks in the days following a mainshock.