QuakeIndex

Fault · California

Santa Monica fault

35 kmlong (22 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 faultElsinore faultNewport-Inglewood-Rose Canyon faultSan Clemente faultSanta Ynez faultLenwood-Lockhart faultHelendale-South Lockhart faultSan Gabriel faultSierra Madre faultSan Diego Trough faultPitas Point faultCatalina faultPalos Verdes faultOak Ridge fault (offshore)Mission Ridge fault systemSan Pedro Basin faultSanta Cruz Island faultMalibu Coast faultSanta Cruz faultDume faultOak Ridge faultSimi-Santa Rosa faultPuente Hills blind thrust systemSan Cayetano faultRed Mountain faultNorthridge blind thrustSan Joaquin Hills thrustRaymond faultVerdugo faultHollywood faultVentura fault
The Santa Monica 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 2.9 8 km S of Malibu Beach, CA
    2026-05-26 · 5 km from the trace
  2. M 3.0 4 km S of Malibu Beach, CA
    2025-05-07 · 2 km from the trace
  3. M 2.7 13 km S of Malibu Beach, CA
    2025-02-17 · 9 km from the trace
  4. M 2.6 0 km NNW of View Park-Windsor Hills, CA
    2023-11-30 · 10 km from the trace
  5. M 3.3 2km WNW of Las Flores, CA
    2023-05-08 · 5 km from the trace
  6. M 2.8 5km SSE of Malibu Beach, CA
    2021-09-06 · 2 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.