Shallow M4.0 Earthquake struck on Wednesday Morning near Gilroy in The United States.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on November 26th, 2025. Last updated December 14th, 2025.

Under land 5 miles from Gilroy in The United States, a shallow M4.0 earthquake occurred in the early morning of Wednesday November 26th, 2025. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. 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, 5 miles (8 km) east of Gilroy in California. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 2 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Nov 26, 2025 06:16AM (Los Angeles Time) - Nov 26, 2025 14:16 Universal Time.
Location:	5 mi east of Gilroy, California, The United States. Coordinates 36°59'50"N 121°28'32"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.0 Detected by 17 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.2 .
Depth:	2 mi (3 km) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate 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	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. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 2 mi (3 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 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% 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

This earthquake may have been felt by around 9 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is IV, which corresponds with light shaking and likely no damage. Roughly 62,710 people are expected to be exposed to this level. The majority of people (roughly 6.3 million) live in an area exposed to level I, where not noticeable and no damage is expected.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
6,315,000	I	Not noticable	None
6,215,000	II	Very weak	None
2,250,000	III	Weak	Probably none
62,710	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 . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Gilroy in California, The United States. Gilroy is located 5 miles (8 km) east of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Gilroy 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. San Jose is located 33 mi to the northwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). San Francisco is located 75 mi to the northwest and experienced an intensity of II (very weak shaking, no damage). Salinas is located 24 mi to the south-southwest and experienced an intensity of II (very weak shaking, no damage).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
5 mi (8 km) W from epicenter	Gilroy California, The United States.	IV Light
11 mi (17 km) SSE from epicenter	Hollister California, The United States.	III Weak
14 mi (22 km) NW from epicenter	Morgan Hill California, The United States.	III Weak
17 mi (27 km) WSW from epicenter	Watsonville California, The United States.	III Weak
19 mi (30 km) SW from epicenter	Prunedale California, The United States.	II Weak
24 mi (39 km) SSW from epicenter	Salinas California, The United States.	II Weak
28 mi (45 km) W from epicenter	Live Oak California, The United States.	II Weak
28 mi (45 km) SW from epicenter	Marina California, The United States.	II Weak
30 mi (49 km) W from epicenter	Santa Cruz California, The United States.	II Weak
32 mi (51 km) NW from epicenter	Alum Rock California, The United States.	II Weak
32 mi (51 km) WNW from epicenter	Los Gatos California, The United States.	III Weak
33 mi (53 km) NW from epicenter	Campbell California, The United States.	III Weak
33 mi (53 km) NW from epicenter	San Jose California, The United States.	III Weak
34 mi (54 km) SW from epicenter	Seaside California, The United States.	II Weak
35 mi (56 km) E from epicenter	Los Banos California, The United States.	II Weak
35 mi (57 km) WNW from epicenter	Saratoga California, The United States.	III Weak
36 mi (58 km) NW from epicenter	Santa Clara California, The United States.	III Weak
36 mi (58 km) SW from epicenter	Pacific Grove California, The United States.	II Weak
36 mi (58 km) SW from epicenter	Monterey California, The United States.	II Weak
38 mi (61 km) NNE from epicenter	Patterson California, The United States.	II Weak
38 mi (61 km) NW from epicenter	Cupertino California, The United States.	II Weak
38 mi (61 km) NW from epicenter	Milpitas California, The United States.	II Weak
40 mi (65 km) NW from epicenter	Sunnyvale California, The United States.	II Weak
40 mi (65 km) SSE from epicenter	Soledad California, The United States.	II Weak
43 mi (69 km) NW from epicenter	Mountain View California, The United States.	II Weak
44 mi (71 km) NW from epicenter	Los Altos California, The United States.	II Weak
47 mi (76 km) NW from epicenter	Fremont California, The United States.	III Weak
48 mi (77 km) NW from epicenter	Palo Alto California, The United States.	II Weak
48 mi (77 km) NW from epicenter	Newark California, The United States.	III Weak
48 mi (78 km) NE from epicenter	Turlock California, The United States.	II Weak
49 mi (79 km) NW from epicenter	East Palo Alto California, The United States.	II Weak
50 mi (80 km) NNW from epicenter	Livermore California, The United States.	II Weak
50 mi (81 km) NE from epicenter	Ceres California, The United States.	II Weak
50 mi (81 km) NW from epicenter	Menlo Park California, The United States.	II Weak
51 mi (82 km) NW from epicenter	Union City California, The United States.	II Weak
51 mi (82 km) NNW from epicenter	Pleasanton California, The United States.	II Weak
52 mi (83 km) N from epicenter	Tracy California, The United States.	II Weak
52 mi (83 km) NNE from epicenter	Modesto California, The United States.	II Weak
53 mi (86 km) NW from epicenter	Redwood City California, The United States.	II Weak
55 mi (88 km) NNW from epicenter	Dublin California, The United States.	II Weak
57 mi (92 km) NNE from epicenter	Manteca California, The United States.	II Weak
57 mi (92 km) NW from epicenter	Hayward California, The United States.	II Weak
58 mi (94 km) NW from epicenter	Castro Valley California, The United States.	II Weak
58 mi (94 km) ENE from epicenter	Merced California, The United States.	I Not felt
61 mi (98 km) NNW from epicenter	San Ramon California, The United States.	II Weak
61 mi (98 km) NW from epicenter	San Mateo California, The United States.	II Weak
67 mi (108 km) N from epicenter	Stockton California, The United States.	I Not felt
71 mi (114 km) NW from epicenter	Oakland California, The United States.	II Weak
75 mi (120 km) NW from epicenter	San Francisco California, The United States.	II Weak
96 mi (154 km) E from epicenter	Fresno California, The United States.	I Not felt
109 mi (176 km) N from epicenter	Sacramento California, The United States.	I Not felt
176 mi (284 km) NNE from epicenter	Carson City Nevada, 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.

9 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 9 smaller aftershocks. Just 1 day after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4 was detected 14 mi (23 km) south-southwest of this earthquake.

In the days before this main shock, 1 smaller foreshock was detected. Roughly 2 days before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-3.2 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 3.2	2 days earlier Nov 23, 2025 11:09PM (Los Angeles Time)	32 mi (51 km) SSE from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 4.0	Nov 26, 2025 06:16AM (Los Angeles Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.7	2 mins later Nov 26, 2025 06:18AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.4 mi (0.6 km) NE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.6	3 mins later Nov 26, 2025 06:20AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.3 mi (0.5 km) ENE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.7	1 day later Nov 27, 2025 12:10PM (Los Angeles Time)	14 mi (23 km) SSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.7	1 day later Nov 27, 2025 12:48PM (Los Angeles Time)	14 mi (23 km) SSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.0	1 day later Nov 27, 2025 12:57PM (Los Angeles Time)	14 mi (23 km) SSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.2	2 days later Nov 28, 2025 07:40AM (Los Angeles Time)	12 mi (20 km) SSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.5	2 days later Nov 28, 2025 07:40AM (Los Angeles Time)	12 mi (20 km) SSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.5	2 days later Nov 28, 2025 07:42AM (Los Angeles Time)	12 mi (20 km) SSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.8	3 days later Nov 28, 2025 11:47PM (Los Angeles Time)	12 mi (20 km) SSW 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 November 18th, 2025, when a 4.1 magnitude earthquake hit 107 mi (172 km) further south-southeast. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on July 8th, 2021.

In total, 106 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 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 00:28 (). 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.