M 3.4 Earthquake Hits Near Muscoy, California
Areazine synthesizes this USGS earthquake report directly from USGS's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
A magnitude 3.4 earthquake struck 1 km southeast of Muscoy, California, at a shallow depth of about 13.3 km, and was felt by 105 people according to reports.
What this USGS earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by USGS on May 9, 2026 and geographically references Southern California. Its severity classification of "low" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Earthquakes - determines the monitoring protocol behind it, which shapes what follow-up action (checking for structural damage, watching for aftershocks, reviewing local building codes) is relevant and which agency holds authority over the assessment.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are earthquake, seismic, usgs, California.
What Happened
An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4 ml occurred on July 14, 2026, at 07:59 UTC (exact local timezone not specified). The event took place at a depth of 13.3 km and was centered 1 km southeast of Muscoy, California.
Location Details
The earthquake was located 1 km southeast of Muscoy, a community in California, with coordinates at approximately 34.147° N latitude and 117.334° W longitude. At a depth of 13.3 km, this is considered a shallow earthquake, which typically results in more noticeable shaking near the epicenter compared to deeper events.
Impact Assessment
The earthquake was felt by 105 people, as reported through community data. There was no tsunami advisory issued, and no alert level was specified.
What You Should Know
This minor earthquake, with a magnitude of 3.4, is often felt but rarely causes damage. Aftershocks may occur, though specifics cannot be predicted; general safety tips include staying indoors and using the 'drop, cover, and hold on' method if shaking is felt.
Source
This information is sourced from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). For more details, visit: USGS Event Page
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
Related Earthquakes
All Earthquakes →Nationwide notices with similar length or severity timing 8
Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this USGS earthquake report: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.
Similar body length
Nearest notices by article body length (1,217 characters here).
Similar severity timing
Same severity (low) notices issued closest in time to May 9, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this USGS earthquake report.