M6.5

M 6.5 - The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake

Strong Earthquake · January 10, 2010 · The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake

Key Insights

•This M6.5 event ranks #67 of 470 earthquakes by magnitude, stronger than 86% of recorded US events.
•At M6.5, this is 0.8 points above the database average of M5.7. Each whole magnitude point represents roughly 32x more energy released.
•The 28.7 km focal depth is classified as intermediate (average: 27 km across all events).
•With 8,931 "Did You Feel It?" reports submitted to USGS, this was widely felt by the public. The significance score of 1360 reflects its overall community impact.

Depth

28.7 km

Tsunami

Felt Reports

8,931

Significance

1360

Earthquake Details

Magnitude	M6.5(mw)
Classification	Strong Earthquake
Location	The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake
Date & Time	January 10, 2010 09:27:39
Coordinates	40.6520N, 124.6925W
Depth	28.7 km (Intermediate)
Tsunami	No
Felt Reports	8,931 reports submitted to USGS
CDI (Community Intensity)	7.1
MMI (Modified Mercalli)	6.8
Significance Score	1360 / 3,000
Status	reviewed

Magnitude Scale Context

Minor

3-3.9

Light

4-4.9

Moderate

5-5.9

Strong

6-6.9

Major

At M6.5, this is classified as a Strong earthquake. Earthquakes of this size can cause severe damage in populated areas within tens of miles of the epicenter.

Official USGS Page: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc71338066

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong was the The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake earthquake?

The The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake earthquake had a magnitude of 6.5 mw, classified as a "Strong" earthquake on the magnitude scale. Earthquakes of this size can cause serious damage to buildings and infrastructure over a wide area.

Where exactly did this earthquake occur and how deep was it?

This earthquake struck at coordinates 40.6520N, 124.6925W, at a depth of 28.7 km. This intermediate depth can still produce significant shaking at the surface.

Did this earthquake trigger a tsunami warning?

No tsunami warning was issued for this earthquake. While the magnitude was significant, the location and depth characteristics did not warrant a tsunami advisory.

How many people felt this earthquake?

8,931 people submitted felt reports to the USGS for this earthquake. The Community Decimal Intensity (CDI) reached 7.1, indicating strong to very strong shaking with potential for damage. The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) was estimated at 6.8.

When did this earthquake happen and how significant was it?

This earthquake occurred on January 10, 2010 at 09:27:39. The USGS assigned it a significance score of 1360 out of a possible 3,000, which factors in magnitude, felt reports, and potential impact. This is considered a highly significant seismic event.

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Key Insights

•This M6.5 event ranks #67 of 470 earthquakes by magnitude, stronger than 86% of recorded US events.

•At M6.5, this is 0.8 points above the database average of M5.7. Each whole magnitude point represents roughly 32x more energy released.

•The 28.7 km focal depth is classified as intermediate (average: 27 km across all events).

•With 8,931 "Did You Feel It?" reports submitted to USGS, this was widely felt by the public. The significance score of 1360 reflects its overall community impact.

Earthquake Details

Magnitude

M6.5(mw)

Classification

Strong Earthquake

Location

The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake

Date & Time

January 10, 2010 09:27:39

Coordinates

40.6520N, 124.6925W

Depth

28.7 km (Intermediate)

Tsunami

Felt Reports

8,931 reports submitted to USGS

CDI (Community Intensity)

7.1

MMI (Modified Mercalli)

6.8

Significance Score

1360 / 3,000

Status

reviewed