Shallow M4.9 Earthquake hit near Susanville in The United States on Tuesday Evening.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 31st, 2025. Last updated January 6th, 2026.

Under land 9 miles from Susanville in The United States, a shallow MAG-4.9 earthquake occurred in the evening of Tuesday December 30th, 2025. Around 2.3 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in The United States, 9 miles (15 km) north-northwest of Susanville 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:	Dec 30, 2025 09:49PM (Los Angeles Time) - Dec 31, 2025 05:49 Universal Time.
Location:	9 mi NNW of Susanville, California, The United States. Coordinates 40°32'40"N 120°41'32"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.9 Detected by 48 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.2 .
Depth:	3 mi (5 km) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VII Very Strong 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 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 2.3 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 2.3 million 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.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VI, which corresponds with strong shaking and probably light damage. Roughly 20 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level II was experienced by the majority of people (around 1.8 million). In their region, very weak shaking and no damage can be expected.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
42,400	I	Not noticable	None
1,780,000	II	Very weak	None
488,800	III	Weak	Probably none
27,450	IV	Light	Likely none
2,530	V	Moderate	Very light
20	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 . Susanville in California, The United States is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 9 miles (15 km) north-northwest of Susanville. The intensity of shaking and damage in Susanville 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. Sacramento is located 142 mi to the south-southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Reno is located 84 mi to the south-east and experienced an intensity of II (very weak shaking, no damage). Stockton is located 181 mi to the south (intensity unknown, possibly low).

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)
9 mi (15 km) SSE from epicenter	Susanville California, The United States.	IV Light
73 mi (118 km) SW from epicenter	Paradise California, The United States.	II Weak
81 mi (130 km) SE from epicenter	Spanish Springs Nevada, The United States.	II Weak
81 mi (131 km) SE from epicenter	Sun Valley Nevada, The United States.	II Weak
83 mi (133 km) SW from epicenter	Chico California, The United States.	II Weak
84 mi (135 km) SE from epicenter	Reno Nevada, The United States.	II Weak
85 mi (136 km) SSW from epicenter	Oroville California, The United States.	II Weak
86 mi (138 km) SE from epicenter	Sparks Nevada, The United States.	III Weak
88 mi (142 km) SSE from epicenter	Truckee California, The United States.	II Weak
89 mi (144 km) W from epicenter	Redding California, The United States.	II Weak
100 mi (161 km) SE from epicenter	Fernley Nevada, The United States.	II Weak
107 mi (173 km) SSE from epicenter	Carson City Nevada, The United States.	II Weak
108 mi (174 km) SSW from epicenter	Linda California, The United States.	II Weak
109 mi (175 km) SSW from epicenter	Yuba City California, The United States.	II Weak
111 mi (178 km) SSW from epicenter	South Yuba City California, The United States.	II Weak
117 mi (189 km) SSE from epicenter	South Lake Tahoe California, The United States.	II Weak
119 mi (191 km) SSW from epicenter	Lincoln California, The United States.	II Weak
124 mi (200 km) SSW from epicenter	Rocklin California, The United States.	II Weak
126 mi (202 km) S from epicenter	Granite Bay California, The United States.	II Weak
127 mi (204 km) NNW from epicenter	Altamont Oregon, The United States.	II Weak
128 mi (206 km) SSW from epicenter	Roseville California, The United States.	II Weak
129 mi (208 km) NNW from epicenter	Klamath Falls Oregon, The United States.	II Weak
130 mi (209 km) S from epicenter	El Dorado Hills California, The United States.
130 mi (210 km) SSW from epicenter	Citrus Heights California, The United States.
131 mi (211 km) SSW from epicenter	Antelope California, The United States.
132 mi (212 km) SSW from epicenter	Orangevale California, The United States.
132 mi (212 km) S from epicenter	Folsom California, The United States.
134 mi (215 km) SSW from epicenter	North Highlands California, The United States.
134 mi (215 km) SSW from epicenter	Foothill Farms California, The United States.
135 mi (217 km) SSW from epicenter	Fair Oaks California, The United States.
137 mi (221 km) SSW from epicenter	Carmichael California, The United States.
139 mi (224 km) SSW from epicenter	Rancho Cordova California, The United States.
139 mi (224 km) SSW from epicenter	Arden-Arcade California, The United States.
141 mi (227 km) SSW from epicenter	Woodland California, The United States.
142 mi (229 km) SSW from epicenter	Sacramento California, The United States.
143 mi (230 km) SSW from epicenter	West Sacramento California, The United States.
147 mi (236 km) SSW from epicenter	Florin California, The United States.
149 mi (240 km) SSW from epicenter	Davis California, The United States.
152 mi (244 km) SSW from epicenter	Laguna California, The United States.
152 mi (245 km) SSW from epicenter	Elk Grove California, The United States.
166 mi (267 km) SSW from epicenter	Vacaville California, The United States.
167 mi (269 km) NW from epicenter	Medford Oregon, The United States.
170 mi (273 km) S from epicenter	Lodi California, The United States.
174 mi (280 km) SSW from epicenter	Fairfield California, The United States.
177 mi (285 km) SSW from epicenter	Napa California, The United States.
181 mi (291 km) SW from epicenter	Santa Rosa California, The United States.
181 mi (292 km) S from epicenter	Stockton California, The United States.
184 mi (296 km) SSW from epicenter	Oakley California, The United States.
185 mi (298 km) SSW from epicenter	Pittsburg California, The United States.
185 mi (298 km) SSW from epicenter	Antioch California, The United States.
186 mi (300 km) SW from epicenter	Rohnert Park California, The United States.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VII. 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.

2 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 2 smaller aftershocks were detected. At a distance of 43 mi (69 km) west-northwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 21 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 2.6

This main shock was prefaced by 3 smaller foreshocks. A 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit 2 days earlier nearby.

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 4.7	2 days earlier Dec 28, 2025 04:41PM (Los Angeles Time)	0.5 mi (0.8 km) WNW from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.5	2 days earlier Dec 28, 2025 05:16PM (Los Angeles Time)	0.4 mi (0.7 km) ENE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.8	12 hrs earlier Dec 30, 2025 10:03AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.3 mi (0.5 km) WNW from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 4.9	Dec 30, 2025 09:49PM (Los Angeles Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.5	10 mins later Dec 30, 2025 09:59PM (Los Angeles Time)	1.7 mi (2.7 km) ESE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.6	21 hrs later Dec 31, 2025 06:43PM (Los Angeles Time)	43 mi (69 km) WNW 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.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

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 9th, 2024, when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit 130 mi (209 km) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on July 8th, 2021.

In total, 13 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.9 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 9 months.

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 4.9. 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.

Sources

Last updated 06/01/26 23:58 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.