Shallow M4.6 Earthquake hit near San Jose in The United States on Thursday Night.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on April 2nd, 2026. Last updated April 10th, 2026.

In the night of Thursday April 2nd, 2026, a shallow M4.6 earthquake hit under land 19 miles from San Jose in The United States. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. Roughly 12 million people may have felt this earthquake.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in The United States, 19 miles (31 km) southwest of San Jose in California. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 6 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Apr 2, 2026 01:41AM (Los Angeles Time) - Apr 2, 2026 08:41 Universal Time.
Location:	19 mi SW of San Jose, California, The United States. Coordinates 37°6'56"N 122°6'45"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.6 Detected by 241 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.2 .
Depth:	6 mi (10 km) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VI Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake in a coastal area, it appears to have occurred under land (9 mi from the sea) with a magnitude that is usually 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 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 12 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 12 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.

Strong shaking and probably light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 1,800 people. At VI, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. The majority of people (roughly 6.8 million) live in an area exposed to level III, where weak shaking and probably no damage is expected.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
1,353,000	I	Not noticable	None
4,271,000	II	Very weak	None
6,809,000	III	Weak	Probably none
1,226,000	IV	Light	Likely none
40,410	V	Moderate	Very light
1,800	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 . Los Gatos in California, The United States is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 11 miles (17 km) southwest of Los Gatos. The intensity of shaking and damage in Los Gatos 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 Jose is located 19 mi to the north-east and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). San Francisco is located 48 mi to the north and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Oakland is located 48 mi to the north and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably 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)
11 mi (17 km) NE from epicenter	Los Gatos California, The United States.	IV Light
11 mi (17 km) SE from epicenter	Santa Cruz California, The United States.	IV Light
11 mi (18 km) NE from epicenter	Saratoga California, The United States.	IV Light
12 mi (19 km) SE from epicenter	Live Oak California, The United States.	IV Light
15 mi (24 km) NE from epicenter	Campbell California, The United States.	III Weak
15 mi (24 km) N from epicenter	Cupertino California, The United States.	IV Light
18 mi (29 km) N from epicenter	Sunnyvale California, The United States.	IV Light
19 mi (30 km) N from epicenter	Los Altos California, The United States.	III Weak
19 mi (30 km) NE from epicenter	Santa Clara California, The United States.	III Weak
19 mi (30 km) N from epicenter	Mountain View California, The United States.	IV Light
19 mi (31 km) NE from epicenter	San Jose California, The United States.	III Weak
22 mi (36 km) N from epicenter	Palo Alto California, The United States.	IV Light
24 mi (38 km) NE from epicenter	Alum Rock California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (38 km) N from epicenter	Menlo Park California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (39 km) N from epicenter	East Palo Alto California, The United States.	IV Light
24 mi (39 km) NE from epicenter	Milpitas California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (39 km) SE from epicenter	Watsonville California, The United States.	III Weak
25 mi (41 km) E from epicenter	Morgan Hill California, The United States.	III Weak
27 mi (43 km) N from epicenter	Redwood City California, The United States.	III Weak
28 mi (45 km) N from epicenter	San Carlos California, The United States.	IV Light
29 mi (46 km) N from epicenter	Newark California, The United States.	III Weak
29 mi (47 km) N from epicenter	Belmont California, The United States.	III Weak
30 mi (49 km) N from epicenter	Fremont California, The United States.	III Weak
31 mi (50 km) E from epicenter	Gilroy California, The United States.	III Weak
32 mi (51 km) N from epicenter	Foster City California, The United States.	III Weak
33 mi (53 km) N from epicenter	San Mateo California, The United States.	III Weak
34 mi (54 km) N from epicenter	Union City California, The United States.	III Weak
35 mi (57 km) NW from epicenter	Burlingame California, The United States.	III Weak
38 mi (61 km) SE from epicenter	Seaside California, The United States.	III Weak
39 mi (62 km) N from epicenter	Hayward California, The United States.	III Weak
39 mi (63 km) SE from epicenter	Salinas California, The United States.	III Weak
39 mi (63 km) NW from epicenter	San Bruno California, The United States.	III Weak
40 mi (64 km) N from epicenter	Pleasanton California, The United States.	III Weak
40 mi (64 km) N from epicenter	Castro Valley California, The United States.	III Weak
40 mi (65 km) NW from epicenter	Pacifica California, The United States.	III Weak
40 mi (65 km) NW from epicenter	South San Francisco California, The United States.	III Weak
42 mi (67 km) N from epicenter	Dublin California, The United States.	III Weak
42 mi (68 km) N from epicenter	San Leandro California, The United States.	III Weak
43 mi (70 km) NE from epicenter	Livermore California, The United States.	III Weak
45 mi (73 km) NW from epicenter	Daly City California, The United States.	IV Light
46 mi (74 km) N from epicenter	Alameda California, The United States.	III Weak
47 mi (75 km) N from epicenter	San Ramon California, The United States.	III Weak
48 mi (77 km) N from epicenter	Mission District California, The United States.	IV Light
48 mi (78 km) N from epicenter	San Francisco California, The United States.	IV Light
48 mi (78 km) N from epicenter	Oakland California, The United States.	III Weak
50 mi (80 km) N from epicenter	Chinatown California, The United States.	III Weak
53 mi (85 km) N from epicenter	Berkeley California, The United States.	III Weak
55 mi (88 km) N from epicenter	Walnut Creek California, The United States.	III Weak
57 mi (92 km) NE from epicenter	Tracy California, The United States.	II Weak
58 mi (94 km) N from epicenter	Richmond California, The United States.	III Weak
60 mi (96 km) N from epicenter	Concord California, The United States.	III Weak

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 VI.

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

Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. At a distance of 29 mi (47 km) east of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 23 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 2.7

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 4.6	Apr 2, 2026 01:41AM (Los Angeles Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.7	23 hrs later Apr 3, 2026 12:51AM (Los Angeles Time)	29 mi (47 km) E from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

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 are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since January 2nd, 2025, when a 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit 125 mi (200 km) further north. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on July 8th, 2021.

In total, 8 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.6 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 year.

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	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 4.6. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 6 mi (10 km). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 10/04/26 23:48 (). 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.