4.4-Magnitude Earthquake Near The Geysers Shakes Northern California, Felt Across Bay Area

A 4.4-magnitude earthquake shook Northern California on May 7, 2026.

The earthquake occurred at around 2:42 p.m. PT. The epicenter was located about 2 kilometers northwest of The Geysers, at a depth of 3.7 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The earthquake was felt in several places close to the epicenter, including at Cobb (located nearly 6 kilometers from the epicenter) and Anderson Springs (around 7.6 kilometers from the epicenter), both in Lake County.

The quake was relatively strong and was experienced by several people. More than 400 people reported experiencing the quake on the USGS’s earthquake reporting system.

Based on the responses on the ‘Did You Feel It?’ reporting tool, USGS categorized the seismic event as Intensity V, which indicates moderate shaking and resulting in very light damage.

A total of five people felt a more intense tremor at Kelseyville in Lake County, which is around 12 kilometers from the epicenter. Residents here reported stronger shaking intensity than at some places near the epicenter.

USGS categorized the tremor at Kelseyville as Intensity VI, which indicates strong shaking and causes light damage.

The earthquake was felt at more locations further away from the epicenter, including at San Jose in the Bay Area (nearly 190 kilometers from the epicenter) and at Roseville in the Sacramento metropolitan area (around 125 kilometers from the epicenter).

The USGS categorized the earthquake as a Green Alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. A Green Alert indicates a low likelihood of casualties or significant economic damage.

No injuries, fatalities, or damage have been reported so far.

The population residing near the epicenter usually lives in structures that are mostly resistant to shaking, though there may be some vulnerable structures, the USGS explained.

Recent incidents of earthquakes in this region have led to secondary hazards, including landslides and liquefaction.

USGS’s ShakeAlert alerted residents of nearby regions to the tremor. People residing in several cities, including Cloverdale, Santa Rosa, Ukiah, and Sacramento, were alerted via the system.

The ShakeAlert warns residents of an earthquake a few seconds before the shaking occurs.

There is a possibility of nearby regions experiencing aftershocks, according to the USGS.

Possibility of Aftershocks

There is a 12% chance of the region experiencing aftershocks of magnitude 3 in the next week.

There is a slight (1%) chance of the region experiencing a magnitude-4 and above aftershock within the following week. While such a tremor is possible, it has a low probability.

The number of aftershocks in the region will fade out over time, although a large aftershock can temporarily trigger several aftershocks.

Why Does The Geysers Experience Frequent Tremors?

Located near the counties of Sonoma and Lake, The Geysers experiences frequent incidents of earthquakes.

The Geysers Geothermal Field sits on a tectonically active zone, according to the USGS. Seismic events in this area are primarily caused by large earthquakes occurring along regional faults that are located miles away from the geothermal field, such as the San Andreas and Healdsburg-Rodgers Creek faults.

However, the process of using steam to generate electricity often triggers small earthquakes in the area. These minor tremors are often felt by workers at the site and residents living nearby.