Massive 5.6 earthquake strikes Northern California Wednesday morning

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake rocked Northern California early Wednesday, with tremors felt near Redwood Valley.

The earthquake struck at approximately 8:10 a.m. Pacific Time, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said it is monitoring the situation.

“Governor Newsom has been briefed on reports of an earthquake in Mendocino County. The Governor’s Office is closely coordinating with emergency officials and assessing potential impacts and damage,” his office wrote on X.

The Redwood Valley earthquake comes as experts warned in May that threat levels for “The Big One” could be even worse than feared due to a horrific domino effect that could wipe out the West Coast.

Following the earthquake, which occurred 115 miles northwest of Sacramento, the National Weather Service said there were no signs of a tsunami.

“No tsunami warning, advisory, watch, or threat,” the US Tsunami Warning System wrote on its website.

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake is strong enough to cause light to moderate structural damage, particularly to older or poorly constructed buildings. Shaking at this intensity can topple furniture, crack walls, and break windows, and is typically felt across a wide area.

The most recent magnitude-5.0-or-greater earthquake in California was a 5.1-magnitude tremor that struck the state’s North Coast on June 3, 2026. That quake was centered in the Pacific Ocean about 40 miles west of Petrolia in Humboldt County.

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