California Earthquake Shakes Towns Near Sacramento on Holiday

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A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattled Northern California residents on New Year’s Day, sending tremors that reached as far as Sacramento and generating dozens of aftershocks in the following hours.

The seismic event occurred at 6:34 p.m. on Wednesday, with its epicenter located 4 kilometers north-northwest of Cobb, CA, approximately an hour west of Sacramento, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

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4.7 EARTHQUAKE, SHAKES NORTHERN CA 🚨🚨

4.7 earthquake struck near Lake County, 15 miles south of Clear Lake, at 6:34 p.m. Wednesday pic.twitter.com/glUbkmoVw3

— NightStalker (@Allium_369) January 2, 2025

Lake County News reported:

A moderate earthquake that occurred on New Year’s evening shook residents across Lake County and triggered dozens of smaller quakes in the hours afterward.

Across Lake County, residents reported feeling the powerful main quake, which they variously described as intense and rolling, with items falling off walls and shelves, and furniture moving.

There were also those who said it was the strongest quake they’ve felt in Lake County.

This seismic activity follows a more significant event from December 5, 2024, when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast prompted tsunami warnings throughout Northern California. While Berkeley officials issued evacuation orders, no tsunami materialized.

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked parts of northern California early Tuesday morning, knocking out power for thousands. pic.twitter.com/bm7gv2oBPd

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 20, 2022

California’s geological activity regularly produces small to moderate earthquakes, leading residents to maintain preparedness for larger seismic events. Communities routinely practice emergency protocols and maintain supplies for scenarios where they might need to seek shelter or survive without basic services for extended periods.

The state’s coastal regions remain vigilant about tsunami risks, acknowledging that dangerous waves can be triggered not only by local seismic activity but also by distant earthquakes occurring anywhere in the Pacific Ocean.