2014 South Napa earthquake
The 2014 South Napa earthquake hit the northern San Francisco Bay Area on August 24, 2014, at 3:20 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. It was a magnitude-6.0 quake that happened about 11 kilometers (7 miles) deep along the West Napa Fault, near Napa. The shaking lasted about 10 to 20 seconds, with the strongest effects in Napa and the surrounding valley. It was the largest Bay Area quake since the 1989 Loma Prieta event.
Damage and injuries: One person was killed and about 200 were injured. Damage was reported in Napa Valley and Vallejo, with many buildings damaged, including several historic structures. Fires broke out in multiple places, and a broken water main hampered firefighting efforts. Wineries and wine storage facilities also suffered damage.
Aftershocks and effects: The quake produced more than a dozen aftershocks, including one of magnitude 3.9. Some wells and springs showed changes in water levels in the quake’s wake.
Response and recovery: California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency, and President Barack Obama declared a major disaster for Napa and Solano counties, unlocking federal aid. In the months that followed, extensive repairs and rebuilding took place, and several key buildings were repaired and reopened.
Warning technology: An experimental earthquake warning system detected the P-waves seconds before the more destructive S-waves reached some areas, providing a brief alert. This work, part of the ShakeAlert program, continued to be developed to improve West Coast warnings.
Impact and significance: The quake caused significant damage and highlighted the importance of building safety, emergency response, and early-warning research for the region.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:58 (CET).