12:37 pm PT April 14, 2025
Near Pacific Crest Trail, ‘it went on forever’
Janet Wilson
Maurice Trammel used to drive Pacific Crest Trail hikers to an from the trail. He retired in March.
“I live in Ramona, California, and I was sitting here on the computer, and that is the biggest earthquake I’ve felt since I’ve lived here,” Trammel said. “I’ve lived here since 2008, and I’m from LA, so I’ve been through earthquakes before, but this one sounded like just a big boom, and it went on forever. And then we just just shook, shook, shook, and then just minor vibrations.”
Trammel said some rain sticks he has outdoors tilted and some cabinet doors popped open inside his home, but he hasn’t discovered any damage.
11:53 am PT April 14, 2025
What are the chances of a major aftershock?
Brian Day
As with all earthquakes, there will be a diminishing chance of significant aftershocks over the next week following Monday’s earthquake in San Diego County.
As pointed out by renowned seismologist and author Lucy Jones, a magnitude-5.0 earthquake carries with it an 89% chance of being followed by an aftershock greater than magnitude-3.0 in the week after a quake.
An aftershock with a magnitude of 3.9 was detected at 11:23 a.m., according to the USGS.
The chances of an aftershock with a magnitude greater than 4.0 over the next week is roughly 40%, Jones relayed via social media. The chance of a 5.0-magnitude aftershock is about 7%.
As always, there is a likelihood of less than 1% that Monday’s magnitude 5.2 earthquake was a foreshock to a larger quake to come over the next week.
Jones said the earthquake was the largest along the Elsinore fault that she had witnessed since moving to California in 1983.
There have, however, been “quite a few” earthquakes with magnitudes measured at 4.0 or greater in the area, she added. And the size of the fault makes it capable of larger events.
Jones described the Elsinore fault as a “junior sibling to the San Andreas.”
11:37 am PT April 14, 2025
How big does an earthquake have to be to trigger a ShakeAlert?
Brian Day
Residents across Southern California received warnings from the ShakeAlert system as the ground began to shift on Monday morning.
Cell phones and other devices alarmed with messages in San Diego and other nearby counties, with an initial projected magnitude of 5.8. The magnitude of the temblor was later revised down to 5.2 as additional data came in.
The threshold to determine whether people receive the alerts varies depending on how they are receiving them.
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 or greater triggers widespread alerts to potentially affected areas via wireless emergency alerts, similar to Amber Alerts, according to the USGS.
Those who have downloaded the USGS MyShake app receive alerts on their devices when a quake with a magnitude of 4.0 or greater is detected.
Systems that automatically activate alarms and take steps to mitigate earthquake damage are triggered when an earthquake of magnitude 4.0 or greater is detected.
The system operates in California, Oregon, and Washington.
The MyShake App, developed in partnership with UC Berkeley, is available for download on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
11:33 am PT April 14, 2025
Magnitude-3.9 aftershock reported near Julian
Sam Morgen
A magnitude-3.9 aftershock was reported 3 miles southeast of Julian at 11:23 a.m.
It was the largest of the dozens of aftershocks that have been reported around the municipality following the 5.2 earthquake that occurred just after 10.
Two other aftershocks have been reported at 3 or above. One was a magnitude 3 while another was reported at 3.5 at 10:12, according to the Southern California Earthquake Detection Center.
11:30 am PT April 14, 2025
Major public safety agencies in Riverside County say no reports of damage
Paul Albani-Burgio
While the earthquake was felt throughout much of Riverside County, there does not appear to have been much – if any – damage.
A public information officer for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office told The Desert Sun about an hour after the quake that it had not responded to any earthquake-related incidents.
Spokespersons for the Palm Springs and Indio police departments confirmed the same was true of those agencies.
11:16 am PT April 14, 2025
What causes an earthquake? Here’s a quick primer
Paris Barraza
Each year, National Earthquake Information Center locates approximately 20,000 earthquakes around the world. That is about 55 earthquakes per day. By some estimates, there may be even more.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there is an estimated 500,000 detectable earthquakes each year – “100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.”
You may remember learning about earthquakes in science class or seeing the devastating impacts in the news. But an earthquake is more than the Earth shaking. Read on to learn what causes earthquakes.
What is an earthquake?
An earthquake occurs when parts of the Earth’s crust move past one another, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. When these blocks shift, it creates an intense shaking motion known as an earthquake.Earthquakes begin underits Earth’s surface in the epicenter. They can occur without warning and can lead to other natural disasters, such as fires, tsunamis, landslides and avalanches, according to National Geographic.Earthquakes are measured in magnitude, which determines their size. The greater the number, the larger and more powerful the earthquake.
More earthquake knowledge to impress friends
The Earth has four layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. The crust and top of the mantle make up another area called the “lithosphere,” which acts like a skin surrounding the Earth’s surface, USA TODAY reported.
The lithosphere, however, is not in one piece and exists like a puzzle or series of fragments, according to the United States Geological Survey. These parts of the lithosphere are not stationary and move slowly. These are called “tectonic plates.”
11:12 am PT April 14, 2025
Some Coachella Valley schools evacuated as precaution
Andrew John
Following the earthquake Monday morning, Desert Sands Unified School District sent text messages and emails to parents saying that all campuses had been evacuated “out of an abundance of caution” to inspect for any potential structural damage, gas leaks or safety concerns.
Coachella Valley Unified School District schools were not evacuated, according to multiple students who spoke with The Desert Sun.
Schools in the Palm Springs Unified School are closed this week for spring break.
11:05 am PT April 14, 2025
No initial reports of injuries, structure damage in Los Angeles
Brian Day
No initial reports of injuries or structure damage were reported in Los Angeles following Monday’s earthquake, although a city-wide inspection process remained ongoing, officials said.
“Pursuant to protocol, the LAFD is now in earthquake mode, as personnel from all 106 neighborhood fire stations conduct a strategic survey by land, air and sea of their districts, examining critical infrastructure and areas of local concern across our 470 square mile City of Los Angeles jurisdiction,” LAFD spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz said.
The inspection process generally takes about an hour to complete, she added.
11:02 am PT April 14, 2025
‘It was definitely the strongest earthquake any of us have ever felt’
Janet Wilson
Shop managers and customers in downtown Julian, about 3 miles from the epicenter, ran outdoors or braced themselves in doorways as every car alarm blared and in some cases, saw merchandise crash off shelves onto the floor.
“It was really strong,” said Julian Pie Company customer service manager Juliana Bemben. She and two co-workers looked at each other when the shaking began and shouted “outside!” to the handful of customers in the shop.
“We definitely had some customers inside, and you know, it was definitely the strongest earthquake any of us have ever felt,” she said. “We all just kind of looked at each other and we’re like, ‘Earthquake! Outside!'”
She said no one was injured, and that the shop, which just underwent a major restoration, suffered no damage. “Fortunately, the place has just been beautifully restored over the last month or two, so everything’s probably extra tight and feels down. It was perfect timing,” she said.
Nearby at Julian Mercantile, Ricki, an assistant store manager, said, “We’re all doing okay. So far, great.”
But a few hundred dollars worth of merchandise tumbled off shelves onto the floor, she said, and they were planning to close temporarily to get it all swept up before re-opening. “We’re still cleaning it up right now…it could have been worse.”
11:02 am PT April 14, 2025
When was the last big earthquake in California?
Paris Barraza
The most recent significant earthquake in the state — either a magnitude of 6.5 or greater or that caused loss of life or more than $200,000 damage — was a December 2024 7.0 earthquake offshore near Cape Mendocino in Northern California, according to the state department of conservation, which tracks “big” earthquakes in California.
There were reports of limited damage and no significant injuries from the December quake.
In 2022, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit near Ferndale in 2022, It indirectly caused two deaths and damaged homes and roads in Humboldt County.
What have been the biggest earthquakes in recorded California history?
California’s largest recorded earthquakes since 1800, ranked by magnitude, according to the California Department of Conservation.
- 7.9: Jan. 9, 1857 in Fort Tejon Two killed; created 220-mile surface scar
- 7.8: April 18, 1906 in San Francisco Possibly 3,000 killed; 225,000 displaced
- 7.4: March 26, 1872 in Owens Valley. 27 killed; three aftershocks of magnitude >6
- 7.4: Nov. 8, 1980 just west of Eureka Injured 6; $2 million in damage
- 7.3: July 21, 1952 in Kern County 12 killed; included three magnitude 6-plus aftershocks in five days
- 7.3: June 28, 1992 in Landers. One killed; 400 injured; $9.1 million in damage
- 7.2: Jan. 22, 1923 in Mendocino. Damaged homes in several towns
- 7.2: April 25, 1992 in Cape Mendocino. 356 injuries; $48.3 million in damage
- 7.1: Nov. 4, 1927 southwest of Lompoc. No major injuries, slight damage in two counties
- 7.1 : Oct. 16, 1999 in Ludlow. Minimal damage due to remote location
10:44 am PT April 14, 2025
No reports of injury or major damage in San Diego County
Brian Day
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office reported no injuries or major damage in the immediate aftermath of Monday’s 5.2-magnitude earthquake near Julian.
The agency added, however, the situation was still developing.
10:44 am PT April 14, 2025
Here’s what to do during an earthquake
Paris Barraza
So what should you do when an earthquake? Be prepared to immediately practice drop, cover and hold on the moment you feel shaking, said the Earthquake Country Alliance.
Here’s how it works and why you should do it:
- Drop: Dropping onto your hands and knees protects you from being knocked down and reduces your chances of being hit by flying or falling objects.
- Cover:Cover your head with one arm and hand. If a study table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it; otherwise, crawl next to an interior wall.
- Hold on: Hold on to the shelter you’ve crawled under as it can shift with the earthquake. If you aren’t underneath anything, hold onto your head and neck with both arms and hands.
People who use canes and can’t practice drop, cover and hold on should sit on a bed or chair and cover their head and neck with both hands. People who use wheelchairs should lock their wheels, if possible, and protect their necks and heads with their arms, a book, or a pillow. The Earthquake Country Alliance has other guidance for older adults and people with disabilities during an earthquake that can be found online at earthquakecountry.org/accessibility.
If you are outside, stay outdoors and away from buildings, according to Ready.gov. You’ll also want to get away from trees or power lines as they can both topple in an earthquake, according to the California Earthquake Authority.
What if I’m driving during an earthquake?
10:43 am PT April 14, 2025
Where did the earthquake happen?
Sam Morgen
The U.S. Geological Survey placed Monday’s earthquake about 2.5 miles south of Julian, a community of less than 2,000 residents in the mountains west of Anza Borrego State Park.
Julian, a resort town with gold rush roots, is in the Cuyamaca Mountains, about an hour northeast of San Diego.
A color-coded map of the shaking area posted by USGS showed moderate shaking with the potential for “very light” damage in Julian and the area immediately surrounding it, with no damage expected in the Coachella Valley or San Diego areas.
10:42 am PT April 14, 2025
Did quake prediction alert work in California?
Matt Solinsky
The website Quakeprediction.com actually forecasted a major earthquake was likely in Southern California in the next 48 hours about two hours prior to the event.
At 8:13 a.m. Monday, the site sent out a message on X, formerly Twitter, citing a better than 90% chance of an earthquake over Southern California, including a 94% chance in the area near Julian where the quake was centered.
Link: https://www.quakeprediction.com/Los%20Angeles%20Earthquake%20Forecast.html
10:39 am PT April 14, 2025
Aftershocks rumble following 5.2 earthquake
Brian Day
Eight aftershocks were detected within 30 minutes of Monday morning’s earthquake, according to the USGS.
The aftershocks ranged in magnitude from 2.5 to 3.5, primarily clustered within 3 miles of the earthquake’s epicenter just south of Julian. The largest, however, took place more than 10 miles away near the community of Borrego Springs.
10:32 am PT April 14, 2025
What have been the biggest earthquakes in recorded California history?
California’s largest recorded earthquakes since 1800, ranked by magnitude, according to the California Department of Conservation.
- 7.9: Jan. 9, 1857 in Fort Tejon Two killed; created 220-mile surface scar
- 7.8: April 18, 1906 in San Francisco Possibly 3,000 killed; 225,000 displaced
- 7.4: March 26, 1872 in Owens Valley. 27 killed; three aftershocks of magnitude >6
- 7.4: Nov. 8, 1980 just west of Eureka Injured 6; $2 million in damage
- 7.3: July 21, 1952 in Kern County 12 killed; included three magnitude 6-plus aftershocks in five days
- 7.3: June 28, 1992 in Landers. One killed; 400 injured; $9.1 million in damage
- 7.2: Jan. 22, 1923 in Mendocino. Damaged homes in several towns
- 7.2: April 25, 1992 in Cape Mendocino. 356 injuries; $48.3 million in damage
- 7.1: Nov. 4, 1927 southwest of Lompoc. No major injuries, slight damage in two counties
- 7.1 : Oct. 16, 1999 in Ludlow. Minimal damage due to remote location
10:30 am PT April 14, 2025
No tsunami threat expected after Southern California quake
Brian Day
No threat of tsunami was expected following Monday morning’s earthquake in San Diego County, according to the National Weather Service.
10:29 am PT April 14, 2025
Southern California earthquake updated to 5.2
Sam Morgen
Shortly after releasing the report on the earthquake that struck near Julian Monday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the magnitude slightly from 5.1. to 5.2
