Was there an earthquake near Palm Desert today?

The current summary and event explorer show M2.0+ earthquakes published by USGS within 100 km of Palm Desert. Select the 24-hour filter for today's matching events.

How close does an earthquake need to be to count as near Palm Desert?

The default local search uses a 100 km (62 mile) radius from the city-center coordinates. You can switch the explorer to 50 km or 300 km, and the selected circle is drawn on the map.

What does the historical section for Palm Desert include?

It summarizes M4.0+ earthquakes within 300 km during the previous ten complete calendar years. The broader radius and higher magnitude threshold are shown separately so the historical totals are not confused with the live local feed.

How current is the earthquake data?

QuakeScout checks the USGS catalog every five minutes. Preliminary magnitude, depth, and location values can be revised after scientific review.

Can QuakeScout be used as an emergency alert?

No. QuakeScout is an informational catalog interface, not an earthquake prediction or emergency warning service. Follow official local authorities and emergency alerts.

Earthquakes Near Palm Desert, CA Today

Name: Recent earthquakes near Palm Desert, CA
Creator: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

Latest USGS events, an interactive distance map, 24-hour and 30-day activity, and clearly scoped historical context.

Updated every 5 min

Default radius

100 km

Live period

30 days

Live threshold

M2.0+

Search center

33.729°N, 116.383°W

Current Seismic Summary

M2.0+ events within 100 km of Palm Desert, from the USGS catalog.

Live USGS data

Past 24 hours

Past 7 days

Past 30 days

Latest event

M2.12d ago

Nearest in 30 days

M2.116 km ENE of Thousand Palms, CA

22 km NE

Strongest · 24h

None recorded

Strongest · 7 days

M3.217 km E of Desert Hot Springs, CA

Strongest · 30 days

M3.217 km E of Desert Hot Springs, CA

Latest Recorded Earthquakes Near Palm Desert

27 matching events

Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program · refreshed every five minutes

Verified Historical Context

USGS recorded 221 M4.0+ earthquakes within 300 km of Palm Desert during the ten complete calendar years 2016–2025. This is a catalog summary, not a prediction or local risk score.

Events by year

1016

117

918

10819

2520

1321

922

1123

2924

625

Magnitude distribution

M4.0–4.9: 208
M5.0–5.9: 11
M6.0–6.9: 1
M7.0+: 1

Strongest events in this period

Magnitude	Location	Distance	Date
7.1	Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence	253 km NW	July 6, 2019
6.4	Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence	242 km NW	July 4, 2019
5.5	17km S of Searles Valley, CA	230 km NW	June 4, 2020
5.5	15km ESE of Little Lake, CA	272 km NW	July 6, 2019
5.5	71km SE of Estacion Coahuila, B.C., MX	285 km SE	March 7, 2020

Method: 300 km radius, M4.0+, USGS Event Web Service, complete years 2016–2025.

Nearby Monitored Cities

Distances are calculated from city-center coordinates and do not describe shaking intensity.

IndioApproximately 15 km away →Palm SpringsApproximately 19 km away →San BernardinoApproximately 94 km away →RiversideApproximately 97 km away →FontanaApproximately 105 km away →El CentroApproximately 129 km away →IrvineApproximately 134 km away →San DiegoApproximately 134 km away →

How This Palm Desert Tracker Works

The live explorer starts with M2.0+ events within 100 km during the past 30 days. Changing a filter requests a new result set from the USGS Event Web Service; it does not estimate or invent seismic activity.

An epicenter may be outside the city boundary. Magnitude measures energy released at the source, while felt shaking also depends on distance, depth, local geology and construction. “No matching events” means none met the displayed catalog filters.

Use my current location All earthquakes in California

Frequently Asked Questions

Live and historical event data: USGS Event Web Service. Preliminary records may be revised.