3.2-Magnitude Earthquake Recorded Near Santa Barbara Island

A 3.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Santa Barbara Island at 1:04 a.m. on November 2, 2025, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). 

The quake occurred 5 kilometers south-southwest of Santa Barbara Island at a depth of 8.3 kilometers. 

This follows a 3.2-magnitude earthquake near the north coast of San Simeon on October 30, 2025, and a 2.7-magnitude earthquake near Santa Paula on October 26, 2025. 

Typically, earthquakes of magnitude 3 and above can be felt by people, according to the USGS. The magnitude, location, and depth of a quake, along with the soil conditions, determine how strongly and widely people feel the tremors.

Individuals can report an earthquake and help the USGS to map the tremor. 

The USGS no longer uses the Richter scale to report most earthquakes. Instead, the agency reports earthquake magnitudes using the Moment Magnitude scale. The Richter scale is considered to be an outdated method to measure magnitude and is usually used for small earthquakes locally. 

Frequent Earthquakes in the Western US

California is the second-most seismically active state in the country with Alaska being the first, according to the California Residential Mitigation Program.

The Western U.S. experiences frequent earthquakes due to its proximity to the western boundary of the North American plate, according to the USGS. Ever since the supercontinent Pangea began to break apart some 200 million years ago, the land that eventually became California was already shifting. 

The San Andreas Fault system began to form around 25 to 30 million years ago when the Pacific Plate came into contact with the North American Plate. This boundary has created a network of faults, accommodating lateral motion between the plates. 

North and east of California, the Basin and Range province, which stretches from Utah’s Wasatch Mountains to California’s Sierra Nevada, is actively stretching westward. 

Southern California also has pockets of volcanic and geothermal activity, according to USGS. These include areas like Coso, north of Ridgecrest, and the area south of the Salton Sea. Below these zones, hot fluid or magma moves through the crust, resulting in local stresses and small fault shifts. 

These areas often experience seismic swarms, which are clusters of earthquakes without a clear mainshock. They may consist of thousands of events and last for hours, days, or even years. Similar swarms occur in other parts of southern California, pointing to localized movement of crustal fluids. 

How to Prepare for Earthquakes

• Secure your space: Keep heavy, unstable items away from exits and doors, brace overhead lights, and store heavy objects on low cabinets. 
• Prepare an emergency kit: Items include non-perishable food and at least one gallon of water per person for at least three days, pet food, a first-aid kit, sanitation supplies, flashlights and extra batteries, and cash.  
• Organize essential documents: Protect financial and personal documents by storing them in the cloud, in a fireproof bag, or on a portable drive. Consider getting an earthquake insurance policy.