Shallow M5.6 earthquake hits near Redwood Valley, California (Updated)

An earthquake measuring M5.6 occurred at 15:10 UTC on June 24, 2026, approximately 11 km (7 miles) north of Redwood Valley, California. The event was registered at a shallow depth of 8.8 km (5.5 miles), as reported by the USGS.

The coordinates place the epicenter at 39.4°N, 123.2°W, within inland Mendocino County. This area of Northern California is characterized by small towns and rural communities, with Redwood Valley being a notable locality within reach of the epicenter. The population in the immediate vicinity is relatively sparse, but nearby towns are within the felt region.

Given the location in Mendocino County, critical infrastructure in this region may include regional highways, small public airports, and utility distribution networks serving smaller Californian communities. The area forms part of the broader infrastructural web connecting Northern California to coastal and inland areas.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

USGS issued a yellow alert for this event, indicating that some casualties or damage are possible. Nearly 5 000 felt reports have been collected for this event. The maximum estimated intensity was VII, and the significance index is 1 330 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

Northern California, including Mendocino County, sits along the boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. The region is known for frequent seismic activity along the San Andreas Fault system, as well as subsidiary faults that can produce moderate to strong earthquakes.

This information was last updated at 20:58 UTC on June 24, 2026.