Shallow M4.3 Earthquake hit near Lancaster in The United States on Monday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on July 13th, 2026.

Under land 46 miles from Lancaster in The United States, a shallow Magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred in the morning of Monday July 13th, 2026. Around 12 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in The United States, 46 miles (74 km) north-east of Lancaster in California. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 5 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Jul 13, 2026 09:40AM (Los Angeles Time) - Jul 13, 2026 16:40 Universal Time.
Location:	46 mi NE of Lancaster, California, The United States. Coordinates 35°18'44"N 117°48'53"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.3 Detected by 166 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.2 .
Depth:	5 mi (8 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 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

An estimated 12 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.

An estimated 230 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. Intensity level II was experienced by the majority of people (around 11 million). In their region, very weak shaking and no damage can be expected.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
9,564,000	I	Not noticable	None
11,420,000	II	Very weak	None
633,800	III	Weak	Probably none
230	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 23 miles (37 km) south of the epicenter of this earthquake, Ridgecrest (California, The United States) is the nearest significant population center. Ridgecrest experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly III. That level implies weak shaking and probably no damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Los Angeles is located 90 mi to the south and experienced an intensity of II (very weak shaking, no damage). San Diego is located 183 mi to the south (intensity unknown, possibly low). Bakersfield is located 68 mi to the west 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)
23 mi (37 km) N from epicenter	Ridgecrest California, The United States.	III Weak
37 mi (59 km) SW from epicenter	Rosamond California, The United States.	III Weak
46 mi (74 km) SW from epicenter	Lancaster California, The United States.	III Weak
53 mi (85 km) SE from epicenter	Barstow California, The United States.	II Weak
53 mi (85 km) SE from epicenter	Barstow Heights California, The United States.	II Weak
53 mi (86 km) S from epicenter	Palmdale California, The United States.	III Weak
55 mi (89 km) SE from epicenter	Adelanto California, The United States.	III Weak
58 mi (93 km) W from epicenter	Arvin California, The United States.	II Weak
58 mi (94 km) S from epicenter	Vincent California, The United States.	II Weak
62 mi (99 km) SE from epicenter	Victorville California, The United States.	II Weak
62 mi (100 km) W from epicenter	Lamont California, The United States.	II Weak
66 mi (107 km) SE from epicenter	Apple Valley California, The United States.	III Weak
68 mi (109 km) W from epicenter	Bakersfield California, The United States.	II Weak
68 mi (109 km) SE from epicenter	Hesperia California, The United States.	II Weak
75 mi (121 km) SW from epicenter	Valencia California, The United States.	III Weak
76 mi (122 km) SW from epicenter	Santa Clarita California, The United States.	III Weak
83 mi (133 km) S from epicenter	Pasadena California, The United States.	II Weak
83 mi (134 km) S from epicenter	Burbank California, The United States.	II Weak
85 mi (136 km) S from epicenter	Rancho Cucamonga California, The United States.	II Weak
85 mi (136 km) S from epicenter	Glendale California, The United States.	III Weak
86 mi (138 km) SW from epicenter	Van Nuys California, The United States.	II Weak
86 mi (138 km) S from epicenter	Alhambra California, The United States.	II Weak
86 mi (139 km) S from epicenter	Universal City California, The United States.	II Weak
86 mi (139 km) S from epicenter	West Covina California, The United States.	II Weak
87 mi (140 km) S from epicenter	Fontana California, The United States.	II Weak
87 mi (140 km) S from epicenter	El Monte California, The United States.	II Weak
87 mi (140 km) S from epicenter	Ontario California, The United States.	II Weak
87 mi (140 km) S from epicenter	Pomona California, The United States.	II Weak
87 mi (140 km) S from epicenter	Rialto California, The United States.	II Weak
88 mi (142 km) S from epicenter	San Bernardino California, The United States.	II Weak
89 mi (143 km) S from epicenter	Hollywood California, The United States.	II Weak
90 mi (145 km) S from epicenter	Los Angeles California, The United States.	II Weak
91 mi (146 km) S from epicenter	Koreatown California, The United States.	II Weak
91 mi (146 km) SW from epicenter	Simi Valley California, The United States.	II Weak
91 mi (147 km) S from epicenter	East Los Angeles California, The United States.	II Weak
96 mi (155 km) S from epicenter	Downey California, The United States.	II Weak
97 mi (156 km) S from epicenter	Riverside California, The United States.	II Weak
98 mi (158 km) SW from epicenter	Thousand Oaks California, The United States.	II Weak
100 mi (161 km) S from epicenter	Corona California, The United States.	II Weak
100 mi (161 km) S from epicenter	Fullerton California, The United States.	II Weak
101 mi (162 km) S from epicenter	Moreno Valley California, The United States.	II Weak
102 mi (164 km) S from epicenter	Anaheim California, The United States.	II Weak
106 mi (170 km) S from epicenter	Orange California, The United States.	II Weak
106 mi (171 km) S from epicenter	Torrance California, The United States.	I Not felt
106 mi (171 km) S from epicenter	Garden Grove California, The United States.	II Weak
108 mi (174 km) S from epicenter	Santa Ana California, The United States.	II Weak
109 mi (175 km) S from epicenter	Long Beach California, The United States.	I Not felt
109 mi (176 km) SW from epicenter	Oxnard California, The United States.	I Not felt
114 mi (183 km) S from epicenter	Irvine California, The United States.	I Not felt
114 mi (184 km) S from epicenter	Huntington Beach California, The United States.	I Not felt
162 mi (260 km) E from epicenter	Las Vegas Nevada, The United States.
183 mi (295 km) S from epicenter	San Diego California, The United States.
183 mi (295 km) E from epicenter	Bullhead City Arizona, The United States.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is IV.

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. A 2.6 magnitude earthquake hit 2 hrs later 1.3 mi (2.1 km) south of 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
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 4.3	Jul 13, 2026 09:40AM (Los Angeles Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.6	2 hrs later Jul 13, 2026 11:29AM (Los Angeles Time)	1.3 mi (2.1 km) S 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.

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 January 21st, 2026, when a 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit 135 mi (217 km) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on July 6th, 2019.

In total, 105 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 5 mi (8 km). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 13/07/26 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.