QuakeIndex

Fault · California

Santa Cruz fault

64 kmlong (40 mi), as mapped
1–5 mm/yrhow fast it slips
< 15,000 yearssince it last broke the surface
16quakes of M2.5+ within 10 km since 2016

In plain English

The two sides move 1 to 5 mm a year — 10 to 50 cm (4 to 20 inches) every century.

Its most recent surface rupture is younger than 15,000 years.

This week vs. its last ten years

0/100

quiet

0 quakes of M1.5+ within 5 km of the trace in the last 7 days — busier than 0% of weeks since 2016. A normal week: 0–0.

Computed from the USGS catalogue · a description of the past, not a forecast · method

San Andreas faultNewport-Inglewood-Rose Canyon faultSan Clemente faultSanta Ynez faultSan Gabriel faultSierra Madre faultPitas Point faultCatalina faultPalos Verdes faultOak Ridge fault (offshore)Mission Ridge fault systemSan Pedro Basin faultSanta Cruz Island faultMalibu Coast faultDume faultOak Ridge faultSimi-Santa Rosa faultSan Cayetano faultMid-Channel faultRed Mountain faultSanta Monica faultNorthridge blind thrustVerdugo faultHollywood faultVentura faultIsla Vista fault
The Santa Cruz fault as mapped at the surface (glowing), with the other mapped faults nearby, 16 of the M2.5+ earthquakes within 10 km of it since 2016 (dots), . Traces: USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database. Historic epicentres are estimates.

Every year since 2016

Earthquakes of M2.5+ with an epicentre within 10 km of the mapped trace. Near is not the same as on: some will have slipped on neighbouring faults.

Most recent near it

  1. M 2.7 35 km NNW of Santa Barbara Is., CA
    2026-08-18 · 2 km from the trace
  2. M 2.6 13 km SSE of Santa Cruz Is. (E end), CA
    2026-05-25 · 2 km from the trace
  3. M 3.0 17 km N of Santa Barbara Is., CA
    2025-11-27 · 4 km from the trace
  4. M 2.7 27 km SSW of Port Hueneme, CA
    2023-07-29 · 9 km from the trace
  5. M 2.6 17km SE of Santa Cruz Is. (E end), CA
    2023-07-07 · 0 km from the trace
  6. M 2.8 26km SE of Santa Cruz Is. (E end), CA
    2023-02-11 · 4 km from the trace

Neighbouring faults

Fault trace, slip rate and age: USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database (public domain), simplified for the web. Earthquakes: USGS ComCat. QuakeIndex does not forecast earthquakes; a fault's history describes the past. For early warning use ShakeAlert.