Shallow M4.1 Earthquake struck on Tuesday Morning near Paso Robles in The United States.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on November 18th, 2025. Last updated December 14th, 2025.

Under land 7 miles from Paso Robles in The United States, a shallow M4.1 earthquake occurred in the morning of Tuesday November 18th, 2025. The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in The United States, 7 miles (12 km) southwest of Paso Robles in California. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 3 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Nov 18, 2025 09:54AM (Los Angeles Time) - Nov 18, 2025 17:54 Universal Time.
Location:	7 mi SW of Paso Robles, California, The United States. Coordinates 35°33'10"N 120°47'16"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.1 Detected by 62 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.2 .
Depth:	3 mi (5 km) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VI Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Potential tsunami risk The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Potential tsunami risk

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.

There is a potential tsunami risk in the aftermath of this earthquake, immediately evacuate to higher grounds away from coastal areas and monitor advice from local authorities. The US Geographic Survey organization has indicated a potential risk for tsunami's following this earthquake.

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	This earthquake appears to have struck on land near a coastal area (9 mi from the sea).	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.1. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 3 mi (5 km). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

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 740 thousand people exposed to shaking

An estimated 740 thousand have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

Moderate shaking and very light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 7,630 people. At V, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level I was experienced by the majority of people (around 6.1 million). In their region, not noticeable and no damage can be expected.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
6,119,000	I	Not noticable	None
500,500	II	Very weak	None
179,800	III	Weak	Probably none
55,010	IV	Light	Likely none
7,630	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 7 miles (12 km) southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, Paso Robles (California, The United States) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Paso Robles is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Los Angeles is located 178 mi to the south-east (intensity unknown, possibly low). San Jose is located 138 mi to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Fresno is located 100 mi to the north-east and experienced an intensity of I (not noticeable, no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
7 mi (12 km) NE from epicenter	Paso Robles California, The United States.	IV Light
8 mi (13 km) ESE from epicenter	Atascadero California, The United States.	IV Light
20 mi (32 km) SSE from epicenter	San Luis Obispo California, The United States.	III Weak
32 mi (51 km) SSE from epicenter	Arroyo Grande California, The United States.	II Weak
39 mi (63 km) SSE from epicenter	Nipomo California, The United States.	II Weak
46 mi (74 km) SSE from epicenter	Santa Maria California, The United States.	II Weak
47 mi (76 km) NNE from epicenter	Coalinga California, The United States.	II Weak
52 mi (83 km) SSE from epicenter	Orcutt California, The United States.	II Weak
59 mi (95 km) NNW from epicenter	Greenfield California, The United States.	III Weak
66 mi (106 km) SSE from epicenter	Lompoc California, The United States.	II Weak
67 mi (108 km) NNW from epicenter	Soledad California, The United States.	II Weak
76 mi (123 km) NE from epicenter	Lemoore California, The United States.	I Not felt
78 mi (126 km) ENE from epicenter	Corcoran California, The United States.	I Not felt
81 mi (131 km) E from epicenter	Wasco California, The United States.	I Not felt
83 mi (134 km) NE from epicenter	Hanford California, The United States.	I Not felt
88 mi (141 km) E from epicenter	Delano California, The United States.	I Not felt
91 mi (147 km) NNW from epicenter	Salinas California, The United States.	II Weak
93 mi (149 km) ENE from epicenter	Tulare California, The United States.	I Not felt
94 mi (152 km) NW from epicenter	Seaside California, The United States.	II Weak
94 mi (152 km) SE from epicenter	Goleta California, The United States.	I Not felt
95 mi (153 km) NW from epicenter	Monterey California, The United States.	II Weak
96 mi (155 km) NNW from epicenter	Hollister California, The United States.	II Weak
99 mi (160 km) SE from epicenter	Santa Barbara California, The United States.	I Not felt
99 mi (160 km) ENE from epicenter	Visalia California, The United States.	I Not felt
100 mi (161 km) E from epicenter	Oildale California, The United States.	I Not felt
100 mi (161 km) E from epicenter	Bakersfield California, The United States.	I Not felt
100 mi (161 km) NE from epicenter	Fresno California, The United States.	I Not felt
104 mi (167 km) N from epicenter	Los Banos California, The United States.	I Not felt
106 mi (170 km) NNE from epicenter	Madera California, The United States.	I Not felt
106 mi (170 km) ENE from epicenter	Porterville California, The United States.	I Not felt
107 mi (172 km) NE from epicenter	Clovis California, The United States.	I Not felt
108 mi (174 km) NNW from epicenter	Watsonville California, The United States.	I Not felt
109 mi (176 km) NNW from epicenter	Gilroy California, The United States.	I Not felt
119 mi (192 km) NNW from epicenter	Morgan Hill California, The United States.	I Not felt
120 mi (193 km) NW from epicenter	Santa Cruz California, The United States.	I Not felt
122 mi (196 km) N from epicenter	Merced California, The United States.	I Not felt
122 mi (197 km) SE from epicenter	Ventura California, The United States.	I Not felt
130 mi (210 km) SE from epicenter	Oxnard California, The United States.	I Not felt
138 mi (222 km) NNW from epicenter	San Jose California, The United States.
140 mi (226 km) NNW from epicenter	Santa Clara California, The United States.
144 mi (231 km) NNW from epicenter	Sunnyvale California, The United States.
145 mi (233 km) N from epicenter	Modesto California, The United States.
145 mi (234 km) ESE from epicenter	Valencia California, The United States.	I Not felt
150 mi (242 km) ESE from epicenter	Santa Clarita California, The United States.	I Not felt
153 mi (246 km) NNW from epicenter	Fremont California, The United States.
161 mi (259 km) ESE from epicenter	Lancaster California, The United States.
168 mi (271 km) N from epicenter	Stockton California, The United States.
173 mi (279 km) SE from epicenter	Glendale California, The United States.
176 mi (283 km) NNW from epicenter	Oakland California, The United States.
178 mi (286 km) SE from epicenter	Los Angeles California, The United States.
178 mi (287 km) NNW from epicenter	San Francisco California, The United States.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is V. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

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.

3 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 3 smaller aftershocks. At a distance of 0.4 mi (0.6 km) north-northwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 15 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 3.2

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
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 4.1	Nov 18, 2025 09:54AM (Los Angeles Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.2	15 hrs later Nov 19, 2025 01:00AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.4 mi (0.6 km) NNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.8	2 days later Nov 20, 2025 03:54PM (Los Angeles Time)	0.6 mi (0.9 km) NW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.8	3 days later Nov 21, 2025 01:18AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.1 mi (0.2 km) NE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major 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 September 22nd, 2025, when a 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit 179 mi (288 km) further north-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on July 6th, 2019.

In total, 114 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.1 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.

Sources

Last updated 14/12/25 00:38 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.