A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck Mendocino County, 120 miles north of San Francisco, and was felt across the Bay Area, underscoring high regional seismic risk.
The event occurred five miles east-southeast of Willits near the Maacama Fault on the San Andreas system. Within two hours, a 3.7 aftershock hit the same area, followed by three smaller quakes, with no injuries or major damage reported.
Scientists note the shallow depth amplified shaking and highlight long-term probabilities: a 72% chance of a 6.7+ in the Bay Area by 2043 and 95% for Northern California. The Hayward Fault carries the highest local risk, while historical events like the 2014 Napa quake show the potential impact of larger ruptures.
