Earthquake Near San Jose Today: Bay Area Shaking Follows 4.0 Gilroy Quake, Thanksgiving Morning Jolts Up North

A cluster of small-to-moderate earthquakes has kept the Bay Area on edge heading into Thanksgiving. While no damaging San Jose epicenter has been recorded today, residents across the South Bay reported light shaking from regional tremors—one day after a magnitude 4.0 struck near Gilroy. Early today, additional quakes in The Geysers zone and along the coast added to the week’s uptick.

What shook—and when

• Wed, Nov. 26 (6:16 a.m. PT): A M4.0 quake (initially 4.3) hit ~5 miles east of Gilroy, waking parts of San Jose, Santa Cruz, and the Peninsula. Two quick aftershocks (M2.7, M3.6) followed within minutes.

• Thu, Nov. 27 (pre-dawn to morning): A pair of upper-M3 earthquakes rattled the Geysers area north of Santa Rosa, widely felt as a soft roll across portions of the North Bay and some East/South Bay high-rises.

• Thu, Nov. 27 (late morning): A M2.5 off the Pacifica coast produced brief, localized shaking on the Peninsula.

Taken together, these events fit a typical Bay Area swarm-and-settle pattern: one felt quake (Gilroy) with a short aftershock sequence, then unrelated background activity in other known zones.

Why San Jose felt it—even when the epicenter wasn’t in town

South Bay soils and long structural periods in mid-/high-rise buildings can amplify gentle, rolling motion from moderate quakes tens of miles away. The Gilroy event sat on the Calaveras–San Andreas system’s complex web; The Geysers quakes stem from deep geothermal processes and often produce long-period waves that travel efficiently through the region. That’s why light motion can register in San Jose even when epicenters are up to an hour’s drive away.

Damage and alerts

• Damage: As of this afternoon, no significant damage or injuries have been confirmed in San Jose from today’s regional activity or Wednesday’s Gilroy quake.

• Alerts: The ShakeAlert early warning system triggered for the Gilroy M4.0 due to intensity thresholds; alerts for today’s smaller jolts varied by proximity and forecast shaking level.

Aftershocks: what to expect

After a ~M4 mainshock like Gilroy’s, it’s normal to see hours to days of smaller aftershocks in the immediate area. Most are too small to feel, but M2–M3 pops can occur and may be felt near the epicenter. Today’s quakes in other zones (The Geysers, offshore Peninsula) are separate sequences, not direct aftershocks of Gilroy.

Rule of thumb: Each day without a larger event reduces—but doesn’t eliminate—the chance of a stronger follow-on. Routine background quakes in the Bay Area will continue.

Practical checklist for San Jose households

• Secure the space: Strap water heaters; latch tall bookshelves; add museum putty under art, TVs, and tabletop decor.

• Refresh supplies: One gallon of water per person per day (3–7 days), nonperishable food, headlamps, spare phone battery, copies of IDs/meds list.

• Know your plan: Two meeting spots (nearby and out-of-neighborhood), an out-of-area text contact, and a car kit (sturdy shoes, gloves, flashlight).

• During shaking: Drop, Cover, Hold On. If you’re in bed, stay there and cover your head/neck. If driving, pull over clear of overpasses and power lines.

Context: where we are in the Bay Area cycle

November has featured a modest rise in felt events—a Gilroy M4.0, a Santa Rosa-area low-M4 earlier in the week, ~M3–M4 pulses at The Geysers, and East Bay micro-swarms near San Ramon. Scientists emphasize that short bursts of activity don’t automatically foreshadow a major quake; they’re part of the region’s normal tectonic release along the San Andreas, Hayward, and Calaveras systems.

San Jose today

• Yes, people felt light shaking in parts of San Jose, largely from nearby (Gilroy) and regional events.

• No significant damage has been confirmed in the city.

• Small aftershocks near Gilroy may continue; separate background quakes elsewhere in the Bay Area are normal.

• Use the moment to tighten your earthquake prep—it’s the single best way to turn an anxious jolt into a safer outcome the next time the ground moves.