Seismic Monitor
Los Angeles earthquakes today: live seismic activity across the metro area
Use this page to monitor recent earthquakes in Los Angeles, see where seismic activity is clustering, and explore individual event details.
Recent earthquakes in Los Angeles
Seismic events sorted by the latest updates with detail links for deeper context.
| Event | Severity |
|---|
Seismic hotspots
Where activity is clustering
About this tracker
Los Angeles Fault Systems
Los Angeles sits in one of the most complex seismic environments in the world. The San Andreas Fault passes about 35 miles northeast of downtown LA, but the greater threat comes from numerous smaller, blind thrust faults directly beneath the city — faults that do not reach the surface and can produce devastating earthquakes without warning.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake (M6.7) was caused by a previously unknown blind thrust fault and caused $20 billion in damage — the most costly earthquake in U.S. history at the time. The Newport-Inglewood Fault runs from Culver City through Inglewood, Long Beach, and into Orange County, directly beneath densely populated areas. The Puente Hills Thrust, discovered after Northridge, runs beneath downtown LA and could produce a magnitude 7.5 earthquake.
Track LA seismic activity in real time on our earthquake tracker and check California-wide activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Angeles due for a big earthquake?
Multiple faults in the LA area are considered capable of producing damaging earthquakes. The southern San Andreas Fault has not ruptured since 1857 and is building stress. Blind thrust faults beneath the city, like the Puente Hills Thrust, could produce M7+ events at any time.
What fault lines run through Los Angeles?
The San Andreas Fault passes northeast of LA, while the Newport-Inglewood, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Puente Hills Thrust, and Elysian Park faults all run through or beneath the metropolitan area. Many of these are blind thrust faults that do not reach the surface.
Explore next
Related intelligence surfaces
Last updated 3/15/2026, 1:04:38 PM