Experts warn San Andreas fault 'locked, loaded and ready to roll' in California

Southern California is blessed with great weather, beautiful beaches, and a verdant landscape.

At the same time, it is cursed with being prone to earthquakes, and experts recently warned the region is overdue for a very serious one, reports KCAL.

According to Thomas Jordan, director of the Southern California Earthquake Center, who spoke at the National Earthquake Conference, the San Andreas fault's southern stretch is, "Locked, loaded, and ready to roll."

Jordan noted it's been well over a hundred years since the fault's last major tremor, notes the Los Angeles Times.

That is in excess of the typical seismic activity interval.

See more active fault lines in the United States

When it does finally activate, experts anticipate it will trigger an up to 8.0 magnitude earthquake.

Casualties are predicted to be in excess of 1,800, injuries will likely befall roughly 50,000 people, and damages could reach $200 billion, notes KTTV.

The researchers are urging preparedness.