USGS · August 16, 2026

Magnitude 2.8 earthquake — 6 km SE of Ontario, CA

A magnitude 2.8 earthquake was recorded near 6 km SE of Ontario, CA on Aug 16, 2026, 01:35 PM (local time at the epicentre — PDT, UTC-7), at a depth of about 5.6 km, according to USGS.

USGSFelt by 128 people · community intensity IV (light)Shallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist

Updated 2026-09-04 18:17 UTC

The full record

Magnitude
M 2.8 · local (Richter) magnitude
Location
6 km SE of Ontario, CA
Local time at the epicentre
Aug 16, 2026, 01:35 PM — PDT, UTC-7
Time (UTC)
2026-08-16 20:35 UTC
Depth
5.6 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
Coordinates
34.011, -117.589
Felt reports
Felt by 128 people · community intensity IV (light)
Tsunami
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Significance
168 / 1000 · routine event
Solution quality
131 seismic stations used · 16° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
Review status
Reviewed by a seismologist
Catalog
USGS

Open the official catalog record

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 2,557,349 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 19,324,801 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.

PlaceDistancePopulation
Eastvale5.8 km SSE59,039
Jurupa Valley7.0 km ESE21,930
Ontario8.1 km NW171,214
Chino9.2 km W85,595
Glen Avon9.6 km E20,199
Norco9.7 km SSE26,289
Rancho Cucamonga10.6 km N175,236
Upland11.0 km NNW76,443
Pedley11.2 km ESE12,672
Los Serranos11.8 km WSW7,099

Earthquake history in this area

12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in California.

Other earthquakes near this epicentre

2 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.

Be first to know about the next earthquake near 6 km SE of Ontario, CA

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Frequently asked questions

How strong was the 6 km SE of Ontario, CA earthquake?

Magnitude 2.8 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 5.6 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 16, 2026, 01:35 PM (local time at the epicentre — PDT, UTC-7). In universal time: 2026-08-16 20:35 UTC.

Was it felt?

Felt by 128 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 Eastvale, 5.8 km SSE (population 59,039).

Are earthquakes normal in this area?

Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.3 (The 1992 Landers, California Earthquake, 1992), and 2 further events were recorded within 100 km 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.