Earthquake now: 4.9 temblor near Indio Hills jolts Southern California, felt from Palm Springs to Los Angeles and parts of San Diego

Searches for “earthquake now,” “earthquake near me,” and “earthquake today” spiked across Southern California after a moderate earthquake near Indio Hills shook the Coachella Valley Monday evening, January 19, 2026 (local time). The quake was widely felt in Indio, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and surrounding desert cities, with reports also extending into the Greater Los Angeles area and parts of San Diego County.

Early automated alerts briefly listed the quake higher, which is why many people saw “5.1 earthquake” flash across phones and social media before the number stabilized.

Earthquake today: the confirmed basics for the Indio earthquake

Seismic listings for the event settled on a magnitude 4.9 earthquake in Riverside County, centered northeast of Indio near the Indio Hills area. The quake struck at 5:56 PM Pacific Time on Monday, January 19, and was recorded at a very shallow depth of about 2 miles (roughly 3 km), a key reason it felt sharp and punchy close to the epicenter.

Key details people are searching:

• Earthquake Indio / Indio CA: Epicenter in the desert northeast of Indio, near Indio Hills

• Earthquake Palm Desert / Palm Springs: Stronger shaking reported across the Coachella Valley

• Earthquake now Riverside: Riverside County logged the event and a cluster of follow-up activity

• Earthquake now Los Angeles / LA earthquake: Noticeable shaking reached into the LA region for some residents

• Earthquake San Diego / San Diego earthquake: Light shaking was reported in parts of San Diego County

Why some alerts said 5.1 earthquake, then changed

Many “earthquake now” notifications are generated within seconds using automated calculations. As additional sensors report in and analysts refine the solution, the magnitude can shift.

In this case, the quake initially circulated as magnitude 5.1, then was revised downward to 4.6, before being adjusted to 4.9. The shaking people felt did not “change,” but the measurement became more accurate as more data arrived.

Earthquake near me: why a 4.9 felt so widespread

A magnitude 4.9 is not considered a major earthquake, but it can feel intense locally, especially when it is shallow. Residents near the epicenter often describe:

• A sudden jolt like a heavy bump

• A few seconds of rolling motion

• Rattling windows, cabinets, and hanging lights

• Brief swaying in upper floors or in lightweight structures

This quake’s location in the Coachella Valley also matters. Desert basins and valley floor sediments can carry and amplify certain shaking frequencies, making the motion more noticeable across a wider area.

Earthquake Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio: where it was felt most

Within the Coachella Valley, reports clustered around:

• Indio and Indio Hills

• Palm Desert and La Quinta

• Palm Springs and nearby desert communities

Outside the valley, lighter shaking reports spread toward:

• Riverside County communities to the west

• Parts of the Los Angeles region (prompting “earthquake now Los Angeles” searches)

• Portions of San Diego County (fueling “earthquake San Diego” and “san diego earthquake” searches)

Aftershocks: earthquakes follow-up activity after the main temblor

A quake in the mid-4 range can produce aftershocks, especially in the first hours. Several smaller follow-up quakes were logged soon after the main event, generally in the high-2 to mid-3 magnitude range. Most aftershocks are short and harmless, but they can feel unsettling—particularly if you’re near Indio, Palm Desert, or Palm Springs.

What to expect:

• The most frequent aftershocks usually happen in the first 0–12 hours

• The vast majority are small and may not be felt

• A few can be noticeable, especially close to the epicenter

“3:56 AM” alerts: time-zone confusion explained

Some readers saw the time listed as 3:56 AM. That typically reflects a different time zone display. The quake time in Southern California was 5:56 PM PT on Monday, January 19, 2026. In places far ahead of California time, that same moment shows up as early morning the next day.

What to do right now if you felt the earth quake

If you felt shaking and you’re searching “earthquake near me”:

• Check for hazards: broken glass, fallen objects, minor cracks

• If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave immediately and contact emergency services

• Expect possible aftershocks; keep shoes and a flashlight nearby

• Re-secure tall furniture if you can do so safely

This earthquake in California is a clear reminder: even a moderate earthquake southern California temblor can travel far enough to light up searches from Indio CA to Los Angeles and San Diego, especially when the quake is shallow and the region is quiet in the evening.