Small Earthquake Rattles Moreno valley, California
Table of Contents
A magnitude 2.7 earthquake struck near Moreno Valley, California, on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a rapid check-in for residents across Riverside County.
- Earthquake Occurred – A 2.7 magnitude earthquake occurred near Moreno Valley, California, at 1:33 pm local time on january 13, 2026.
- Shallow Depth – The quake was relatively shallow, at a depth of 8.5 miles, meaning it was likely felt more intensely in nearby areas.
- Agency Confirmation – Multiple agencies, including the USGS, IRIS, and EMSC, confirmed the event, with slightly varying magnitude readings.
- Potential Impact – While unlikely to have caused notable damage, the quake was perhaps felt as weak shaking in several cities throughout Riverside County.
A magnitude 2.7 earthquake shook the ground around 1:33 pm local time on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026, near Moreno Valley, California, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tremor, while small, serves as a reminder of the seismic activity inherent to the region.
Shallow Depth, Potentially Stronger Shaking
Preliminary data indicates the earthquake originated at a shallow depth of 8.5 miles. Generally, shallower earthquakes are felt more strongly at the surface as the seismic waves have less distance to travel. Seismologists are continuing to analyze data, and the initial magnitude, epicenter location, and depth may be refined in the coming hours or minutes as additional reports are processed.
The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) independently reported a magnitude of 2.7 for the same event.The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) measured the quake at a slightly higher magnitude of 2.8.
which Cities Felt the Tremor?
Moreno Valley, with a population of 204,200, is located just 2 miles from the epicenter and residents likely experienced very weak shaking.Redlands (pop. 71,000) at 6 miles away, may have also felt the tremor. Further afield, in cities like Colton (pop. 54,600, 9 miles away), Riverside (pop. 317,300,10 miles away),San Bernardino (pop. 216,100, 11 miles away), Highland (pop. 54,900, 11 miles away), Perris (pop. 75,000,13 miles away),Rialto (pop.103,100, 13 miles away), and Fontana (pop. 212,700, 15 miles away), the quake was probably not felt.
did you feel the earthquake? Report your experience to help seismologists gather more detailed facts about the event.
Earthquake Details
Date & time: Jan 13, 2026 01:33 pm (GMT -8) local time (13 jan 2026 21:33 GMT)
Magnitude: 2.7
Depth: 13.73 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 33.97°N / 117.22°W 
(Riverside County, California, United States)
Primary data source: USGS
