WILLITS, Calif. (Jun. 24, 2026) — A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Northern California on Wednesday morning, shaking communities across the region and triggering earthquake alerts for some residents in Southern Oregon.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 8:10 a.m. and was centered near Willits in Mendocino County, approximately 200 miles south of Medford. The quake originated at a depth of 8.1 kilometers, a relatively shallow depth that can increase the intensity of ground shaking near the epicenter.
Several minutes after the initial quake, a magnitude 2.5 aftershock was recorded in the area.
The USGS notes that the closer an earthquake begins to the Earth’s surface, the greater the potential for noticeable shaking and damage. Earthquakes larger than about magnitude 2.5 are typically felt by people near the epicenter.
No immediate reports of significant damage or injuries were available Wednesday morning.
Many residents throughout the Medford metropolitan area reported receiving earthquake notifications from the USGS on their mobile devices shortly after the quake occurred. While the earthquake was not believed to have been felt in Southern Oregon, the event’s magnitude and location prompted alerts to be distributed across a broad area.
Northern California is one of the most seismically active regions in the United States due to the complex network of faults that run throughout the state. Seismologists continue to monitor the area for additional aftershocks.
The USGS may revise earthquake magnitude and depth information as additional seismic data becomes available.
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