Earthquake swarm shakes Central California for third day, sparking fears of 'Big One'

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, CALIFORNIA: A persistent swarm of earthquakes rattled Central California for the third consecutive day, leaving residents on edge and fueling speculation that the "Big One" could be looming.

Locals reported feeling sharp jolts as three distinct tremors struck less than 30 miles south of San Jose on Friday morning. The latest activity, which occurred between 10:40 a.m. and 10:43 a.m. ET, followed a series of shakes over the Thanksgiving holiday that centered on fault lines connected to the infamous San Andreas system.

'Did you feel that?' Residents react to Friday morning tremors

The US Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that Friday’s wave began with a magnitude 3.4 earthquake, quickly followed by magnitude 2.6 and 2.5 quakes.

Social media users in the South Bay and Central Coast areas flagged the disturbances immediately. "Small magnitude 3.3 quake hits 12 miles northeast of Salinas," the automated Earthquake Monitor account posted, confirming the shakes felt by early risers.

Residents described the sensation as a sudden, sharp movement rather than a rolling motion. "Sharp jolt," one user wrote, while others expressed concern over the frequency of the tremors during the holiday weekend.

Thanksgiving 'swarm' hits Northern California

Yesterday’s cluster of earthquakes near San Juan Bautista, including magnitude 3.9 and 4.0 quakes about nine minutes apart, occurred close to—but not directly on—the San Andreas Fault. M4-level quakes can happen almost anywhere in California, which has numerous fault lines.

The anxiety was compounded by broader instability across the state. On Thanksgiving, Northern California's "The Geysers" region recorded at least 13 tremors ranging from magnitude 1.0 to 3.7.

"Californians were shaken by multiple earthquakes on Thanksgiving morning, raising concerns in the seismically active region," the ZTF Guide account posted on X, sharing a map of the affected zones.

Experts linked the activity near San Juan Bautista to the Calaveras Fault, a major branch of the San Andreas Fault. While scientists cautioned that swarms are common and often release pressure, the relentless nature of this week’s quakes—including a magnitude 4.0 event on Wednesday—kept the "Big One" conversation trending online.