QuakeIndex

Fault · California

Verdugo fault

21 kmlong (13 mi), as mapped
0.2–1 mm/yrhow fast it slips
< 15,000 yearssince it last broke the surface
26quakes of M2.5+ within 10 km since 2016

In plain English

The two sides move 0.2 to 1 mm a year — 2 to 10 cm every century.

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

The largest earthquake recorded near it was M 6.6 in 1971 (1971 San Fernando Earthquake, California) — about 250,000 times the energy of an M3.0, the size people start to feel. It released about 120 kilotons of TNT.

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 faultGarlock faultSan Jacinto faultNewport-Inglewood-Rose Canyon faultSan Clemente faultSanta Ynez faultLenwood-Lockhart faultHelendale-South Lockhart faultSan Gabriel faultSierra Madre faultCatalina faultPalos Verdes faultMission Ridge fault systemSan Pedro Basin faultMalibu Coast faultSanta Cruz faultDume faultOak Ridge faultSimi-Santa Rosa faultPuente Hills blind thrust systemSan Cayetano faultSanta Monica faultNorthridge blind thrustSan Joaquin Hills thrustCleghorn faultRaymond faultHollywood faultVentura faultRed Hill-Etiwanda Avenue fault M 6.6 · 1971 · 1971 San Fernando Earthquake, California M 6.0 · 1855 · Near San Gabriel, California
The Verdugo fault as mapped at the surface (glowing), with the other mapped faults nearby, 26 of the M2.5+ earthquakes within 10 km of it since 2016 (dots), and the epicentres of the large historic earthquakes recorded near it (rings). 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.

The big ones recorded near it

  1. M 6.6 1971 San Fernando Earthquake, California
    February 9, 1971 · epicentre 18 km from the trace
  2. M 6.0 Near San Gabriel, California
    July 11, 1855 · epicentre 13 km from the trace
  3. M 4.4 4 km SSE of Highland Park, CA
    August 12, 2024 · epicentre 9 km from the trace
  4. M 4.2 1km SE of Sylmar, CA
    July 30, 2020 · epicentre 6 km from the trace

Before 1973 from the USGS ComCat historical catalogue (within 25 km; epicentres of old earthquakes are estimates). Since 2016, M4+ within 10 km.

Most recent near it

  1. M 2.7 2 km NE of Sherman Oaks, CA
    2025-06-24 · 10 km from the trace
  2. M 3.8 2 km ESE of North Hollywood, CA
    2025-03-03 · 5 km from the trace
  3. M 2.8 4 km WSW of Alhambra, CA
    2024-12-16 · 10 km from the trace
  4. M 2.8 4 km SSE of Highland Park, CA
    2024-10-31 · 8 km from the trace
  5. M 4.4 4 km SSE of Highland Park, CA
    2024-08-12 · 9 km from the trace
  6. M 2.9 4 km SSE of Highland Park, CA
    2024-06-24 · 8 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.