When Is Californias Next Big One Earthquake? See Projections & Estimates

California residents have been hearing about “The Big One” for decades.The term refers to a potentially catastrophic earthquake that will strike one of the state’s major fault systems, particularly the San Andreas Fault and the San Jacinto Fault.

While scientists agree that another major earthquake will happen someday, they emphasize that they can’t predict the exact date, time or location.Recent studies and seismic monitoring have renewed concerns about California’s earthquake risk, especially as stress continues to build along several active fault lines.

Here’s what experts know about the state’s next potential “Big One.” When Was the Last ‘Big One’ Earthquake in California? That depends on how “The Big One” is defined. For Southern California, experts point to the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which registered a magnitude 6.7, killing 57 people while causing an estimated $20 billion in damage.Although it was devastating, Northridge was smaller than the catastrophic earthquake scenarios often associated with “The Big One.” Others consider the last true “Big One” as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

The quake had a magnitude of 7.9 and ruptured a large section of the San Andreas Fault.The earthquake and fires destroyed parts of San Francisco and killed thousands of people.

The other recorded “Big One” occurred in 1857, measuring at a 7.9 magnitude.It ruptured the southern section of the San Andreas Fault, between Parfield and Wrightwood, California.

Scientists are concerned about the southern section of the San Andreas Fault to this day.When Will the Next Big Earthquake Happen? As for the next “Big One,” the short answer is that nobody knows when it will happen — but it’s imminent.

According to the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS), earthquakes cannot currently be predicted with enough precision to determine the exact date, time or location when or where the next major quake will occur.

Researchers have, however, deve...