Shallow M4.3 Earthquake struck on Thursday Morning near Santa Rosa in The United States.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 5th, 2024. Last updated December 21st, 2024.

A shallow MAG-4.3 earthquake struck under land 29 miles from Santa Rosa in The United States in the morning of Thursday December 5th, 2024. Around 9 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in The United States, 29 miles (46 km) north-northwest of Santa Rosa in California. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 0 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Dec 5, 2024 10:47AM (Los Angeles Time) - Dec 5, 2024 18:47 Universal Time.
Location:	29 mi NNW of Santa Rosa, California, The United States. Coordinates 38°50'39"N 122°49'37"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.3 Detected by 15 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.094 .
Depth:	0 mi (0 km) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 69% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 98% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 9 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 9 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

An estimated 24,010 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. The majority of people (roughly 7 million) live in an area exposed to level II, where very weak shaking and no damage is expected.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
4,374,000	I	Not noticable	None
7,020,000	II	Very weak	None
1,541,000	III	Weak	Probably none
24,010	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in The United States . Located 14 miles (22 km) southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, Clearlake (California, The United States) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Clearlake is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. San Francisco is located 77 mi to the south-southeast and experienced an intensity of II (very weak shaking, no damage). San Jose is located 116 mi to the south-southeast and experienced an intensity of I (not noticeable, no damage). Sacramento is located 74 mi to the east-southeast and experienced an intensity of II (very weak shaking, no damage).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
14 mi (22 km) NE from epicenter	Clearlake California, The United States.	IV Light
21 mi (33 km) S from epicenter	Windsor California, The United States.	III Weak
29 mi (46 km) SSE from epicenter	Santa Rosa California, The United States.	III Weak
29 mi (47 km) NW from epicenter	Ukiah California, The United States.	III Weak
35 mi (57 km) SSE from epicenter	Rohnert Park California, The United States.	III Weak
43 mi (70 km) SSE from epicenter	Petaluma California, The United States.	III Weak
48 mi (77 km) SE from epicenter	Napa California, The United States.	III Weak
53 mi (85 km) SSE from epicenter	Novato California, The United States.	II Weak
55 mi (89 km) SE from epicenter	American Canyon California, The United States.	II Weak
57 mi (91 km) SE from epicenter	Vacaville California, The United States.	II Weak
58 mi (93 km) E from epicenter	Woodland California, The United States.	II Weak
59 mi (95 km) SE from epicenter	Fairfield California, The United States.	II Weak
60 mi (96 km) SSE from epicenter	Vallejo California, The United States.	II Weak
60 mi (96 km) SE from epicenter	Suisun California, The United States.	III Weak
61 mi (98 km) ESE from epicenter	Dixon California, The United States.	II Weak
62 mi (100 km) ESE from epicenter	Davis California, The United States.	II Weak
62 mi (100 km) SSE from epicenter	San Rafael California, The United States.	II Weak
68 mi (109 km) SSE from epicenter	Richmond California, The United States.	II Weak
68 mi (110 km) ENE from epicenter	Yuba City California, The United States.	II Weak
72 mi (116 km) ESE from epicenter	West Sacramento California, The United States.	II Weak
73 mi (118 km) SSE from epicenter	Berkeley California, The United States.	II Weak
74 mi (119 km) ESE from epicenter	Sacramento California, The United States.	II Weak
74 mi (119 km) SE from epicenter	Concord California, The United States.	II Weak
76 mi (122 km) SSE from epicenter	Chinatown California, The United States.	I Not felt
76 mi (122 km) SE from epicenter	Pittsburg California, The United States.	II Weak
77 mi (124 km) SSE from epicenter	Walnut Creek California, The United States.	II Weak
77 mi (124 km) SSE from epicenter	San Francisco California, The United States.	II Weak
78 mi (125 km) SSE from epicenter	Oakland California, The United States.	II Weak
80 mi (128 km) ESE from epicenter	Arden-Arcade California, The United States.	II Weak
80 mi (129 km) SSE from epicenter	Alameda California, The United States.	II Weak
80 mi (129 km) SE from epicenter	Antioch California, The United States.	II Weak
81 mi (130 km) NE from epicenter	Chico California, The United States.	II Weak
81 mi (131 km) SSE from epicenter	Daly City California, The United States.	I Not felt
82 mi (132 km) E from epicenter	Carmichael California, The United States.	II Weak
83 mi (134 km) E from epicenter	Roseville California, The United States.	II Weak
84 mi (135 km) ESE from epicenter	Rancho Cordova California, The United States.	II Weak
84 mi (135 km) ESE from epicenter	Elk Grove California, The United States.	II Weak
84 mi (135 km) E from epicenter	Citrus Heights California, The United States.	II Weak
85 mi (137 km) SSE from epicenter	South San Francisco California, The United States.	I Not felt
86 mi (138 km) SSE from epicenter	San Leandro California, The United States.	II Weak
87 mi (140 km) SSE from epicenter	San Ramon California, The United States.	II Weak
89 mi (144 km) E from epicenter	Folsom California, The United States.	I Not felt
91 mi (146 km) SSE from epicenter	Hayward California, The United States.	II Weak
93 mi (149 km) SSE from epicenter	San Mateo California, The United States.	I Not felt
99 mi (159 km) SE from epicenter	Livermore California, The United States.	I Not felt
99 mi (160 km) SSE from epicenter	Redwood City California, The United States.	II Weak
101 mi (162 km) SSE from epicenter	Fremont California, The United States.	I Not felt
103 mi (166 km) SE from epicenter	Stockton California, The United States.	I Not felt
111 mi (178 km) SSE from epicenter	Sunnyvale California, The United States.	I Not felt
113 mi (182 km) SSE from epicenter	Santa Clara California, The United States.	I Not felt
116 mi (186 km) SSE from epicenter	San Jose California, The United States.	I Not felt
168 mi (271 km) ENE from epicenter	Reno Nevada, The United States.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is V.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 1 smaller aftershock. Just 1 min after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-2.5 was detected 2.5 mi (4 km) east of this earthquake.

This main shock was prefaced by 3 smaller foreshocks. Roughly 1 min before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-3.9 was detected nearby this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 3.1	1 day earlier Dec 4, 2024 09:06AM (Los Angeles Time)	53 mi (85 km) NE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.6	19 hrs earlier Dec 4, 2024 04:04PM (Los Angeles Time)	6 mi (10 km) SE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 3.9	1 min earlier Dec 5, 2024 10:46AM (Los Angeles Time)	3 mi (5 km) SSE from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 4.3	Dec 5, 2024 10:47AM (Los Angeles Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.5	1 min later Dec 5, 2024 10:48AM (Los Angeles Time)	2.5 mi (4 km) E from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since December 5th, 2024, when a 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit 152 mi (245 km) further northwest. An even stronger magnitude 7 earthquake struck on December 5th, 2024.

In total, 101 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.3 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every month.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.3. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 0 mi (0 km). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 21/12/24 00:58 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.