JULIAN – (INT) – A moderate earthquake rumbled across a wide area of Southern California Monday.

The USGS placed the epicenter in northeast San Diego County southeast of the mountain community of Julian.

The M5.2 jolt was felt across several counties and has been followed by a series of aftershocks. An M4.0 was recorded about an hour after the main shock.

The USGS also reported several precursor quakes with the same epicenter beginning Sunday afternoon ranging up to M3.0.

Seismologists were trying to determine if an M3.5 quake near Borrego Springs about the same time of Monday’s jolt near Julian was related. Both epicenters lie near the San Jacinto Fault.

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services said the agency was working with local agencies to assess any possible damage or impacts from the quake. The governor's office issued a statement saying Gov. Gavin Newsom had been briefed on the quake.

"The state is coordinating with local authorities to assess any damage and if emergency response is needed," according to the governor's office.

The San Jacinto Fault Zone (SJFZ) is a major strike-slip fault zone that runs through four counties including the Inland Empire. The SJFZ is considered to be the most seismically active fault zone in Southern California. It and the San Andreas Fault System relieve the majority of the stress between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates.

Story Date: April 15, 2025