USGS · August 12, 2026
Magnitude 2.6 earthquake — 9 km SW of Valencia, CA
A magnitude 2.6 earthquake was recorded near 9 km SW of Valencia, CA on Aug 12, 2026, 01:56 PM (local time at the epicentre — PDT, UTC-7), at a depth of about 4.2 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 48 people · community intensity IV (light)Shallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-04 18:47 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 2.6 · local (Richter) magnitude
- Location
- 9 km SW of Valencia, CA
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 12, 2026, 01:56 PM — PDT, UTC-7
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-12 20:56 UTC
- Depth
- 4.2 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 34.385, -118.629
- Felt reports
- Felt by 48 people · community intensity IV (light)
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 125 / 1000 · routine event
- Solution quality
- 91 seismic stations used · 15° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
People who reported it described intensity IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 1,479,510 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 15,483,274 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Stevenson Ranch | 5.1 km E | 17,557 |
| Valencia | 6.8 km NNE | 148,456 |
| Val Verde | 7.2 km NNW | 2,468 |
| Santa Clarita | 7.9 km E | 182,371 |
| Castaic | 11.6 km N | 19,015 |
| Chatsworth | 14.4 km S | 41,255 |
| Santa Susana | 14.7 km SSW | 1,037 |
| Canyon Country | 15.0 km ENE | 59,530 |
| Piru | 15.6 km WNW | 2,063 |
| Sylmar | 18.5 km ESE | 79,614 |
Earthquake history in this area
No earthquake of magnitude 4.5+ has been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in California.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
1 other event within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 9 km SW of Valencia, CA
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 9 km SW of Valencia, CA earthquake?
Magnitude 2.6 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 4.2 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Aug 12, 2026, 01:56 PM (local time at the epicentre — PDT, UTC-7). In universal time: 2026-08-12 20:56 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 48 people · community intensity IV (light). Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Stevenson Ranch, 5.1 km E (population 17,557).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
1 further events were recorded within 100 km of the epicentre in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.