The Los Angeles area is known to be geologically active . The San Andreas Fault is about 40 miles north east of Downtown Los Angeles . The closest towns and cities to Los Angeles which contain the San Andreas Fault are Gorman and Palmdale , California . Historically , major earthquakes have occurred along the fault , large enough to cause fatalities and millions of dollars in damages . A major earthquake has n't happened in the southern section of the San Andreas Fault in over 150 years and geologist have determined a 50 % probability of a 7.0 earthquake , registered on the moment magnitude scale within the years 2010 to 2040 . Some geologists say this probably is over speculated . There is no way to accurately predict an earthquake anywhere on any specific fault . On the contrary , major efforts have been made to fund a practical earthquake warning system , similar to what Japan used in Tokyo during the 2011 Japan earthquake , in Southern California . Today , the area gets hits with many earthquakes per day , most reregistering below a 2.5 on the moment magnitude scale , too insignificant to feel any shaking on the surface
2011 Japan earthquake
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
Los Angeles metropolitan area