3.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Redlands, Shaking Communities Across Inland Empire

Less than a minute later, a magnitude 3.2 aftershock followed in the same area.

Published: 5/6/2026, 10:45:24 PM EDT

3.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Redlands, Shaking Communities Across Inland Empire — A map shows the location of a 3.1 magnitude earthquake that struck 3.7 miles southwest of Redlands, CA, on May 6, 2026. (USGS)

A pair of earthquakes struck southwest of Redlands early Wednesday morning, rattling residents across a wide stretch of the Inland Empire. There were no reports of injury or major damage.

The first quake was initially reported as a magnitude of 3.3 that hit at approximately 9:45 a.m. about 3.7 miles southwest of Redlands in San Bernardino County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Less than a minute later, a magnitude 3.2 aftershock followed in the same area. The agency later revised the quake to a 3.1 magnitude with a depth of 2.8 miles.

The USGS Community Internet Intensity Map classified the shaking as "light," and the quakes were felt across a wide swath of Southern California that included Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, Yucaipa, Perris, and Corona.

For those living nearest to the epicenter, the sensation was not subtle. Redlands resident Jacki Caron Mortenson described the experience on Facebook: "Another quake in Redlands at 9:45 a 3.3 — this time my office chair moved with me in it, on the 2nd floor of my 1908 redwood home. When it's close, it feels like a truck hit the house, no rolling."

The tremors were centered within a few miles of several densely populated communities. According to Volcano Discovery, weak to very weak shaking may have been felt in Redlands, home to approximately 71,000 people, as well as in Loma Linda and Moreno Valley, each about five miles from the epicenter. Communities farther out—including Highland, San Bernardino, Riverside, Rialto, and Fontana—may have also experienced minor shaking.

Shallow earthquakes tend to produce stronger ground shaking than deeper ones, even at the same magnitude. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre independently reported the quake as a magnitude 3.2.

More Seismic Activity

Wednesday's quakes come as seismic activity in Southern California has kept residents on their toes in recent months. In January, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck approximately 12 miles northeast of Indio, sending tremors through the Coachella Valley around 5:56 p.m. That quake—shallow at just 1.8 miles deep—was followed by aftershocks of magnitude 3.4 and 3.3.

The broader Southern California region sits atop one of the most seismically active fault networks in the country. Tectonic motion—specifically the northward movement of the Pacific plate against the North American plate—drives the region's persistent earthquake activity. The San Andreas Fault, stretching 1,200 kilometers from the Salton Sea north to offshore Cape Mendocino, forms the main plate boundary and passes near Indio. Other active fault systems in the region include the San Jacinto, Elsinore, Newport-Inglewood and Rose Canyon Faults, all of which are capable of producing major earthquakes, and the Eastern California Shear Zone, which has been responsible for nearly all significant Southern California earthquakes in recent decades.

The region's seismic history carries sobering reminders of what larger faults can do. The 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake measured magnitude 7.9, killing two people and leaving a 220-mile surface rupture across the landscaped. The 1994 Northridge earthquake, a magnitude 6.7 event, killed 57 people, injured 9,000 more, and caused up to $40 billion in damage.

The Department of Homeland Security's Ready.gov initiative recommends securing heavy household items, building family communication plans, and maintaining emergency supply kits stocked with food, water, flashlights, and first-aid materials. During a quake, the standard guidance is to drop to hands and knees, shelter under sturdy furniture, and protect the head and neck. After shaking stops, residents should remain alert for aftershocks.