California earthquakes

M2.9 earthquake 26km NNE of Arvin, CA

A magnitude 2.9 earthquake struck 26km NNE of Arvin, CA on Fri, May 11, 1956, 8:02 AM GMT-7 (15:02 UTC), 6 km (4 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.4 9km NE of Grapevine, CA. This one was a foreshock.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude
2.9 (ml), micro
Local time
UTC
1956-05-11 15:02:26 UTC
Depth
6.0 km (3.7 mi), shallow
Epicenter
35.409° N, 118.683° W
Tsunami flag
No
Status
Reviewed by a seismologist

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Location uncertainty
About 1.4 km horizontally, 31.6 km in depth
Magnitude uncertainty
±0.03
Depth from
Operator assigned
Station coverage gap
137°
Stations used
8

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: 15 in the 60 days after this one and 6 in the 30 days before it.

After

  1. 2.816km E of Arvin, CA · 25697 days ago · 6 km deep · 20 km away
  2. 2.821km NE of Arvin, CA · 25695 days ago · 6 km deep · 5 km away
  3. 3.49km NE of Grapevine, CA · 25694 days ago · 4 km deep · 48 km away
  4. 3.46km N of Pine Mountain Club, CA · 25691 days ago · 6 km deep · 71 km away
  5. 2.923km S of Bodfish, CA · 25690 days ago · 6 km deep · 19 km away
  6. 2.923km NE of Lamont, CA · 25682 days ago · 6 km deep · 6 km away
  7. 2.921km ENE of Arvin, CA · 25678 days ago · 6 km deep · 15 km away
  8. 4.023km SSW of Bakersfield, CA · 25677 days ago · 6 km deep · 49 km away
  9. 2.926km NNW of Tehachapi, CA · 25676 days ago · 6 km deep · 14 km away
  10. 3.025km S of Bodfish, CA · 25674 days ago · 6 km deep · 13 km away
  11. 3.018km SE of Bodfish, CA · 25672 days ago · 1 km deep · 31 km away
  12. 3.05km E of Bakersfield, CA · 25668 days ago · 6 km deep · 28 km away
  13. 3.621km N of Tehachapi, CA · 25665 days ago · 6 km deep · 21 km away
  14. 3.322km N of Tehachapi, CA · 25658 days ago · 6 km deep · 21 km away
  15. 3.122km W of Johannesburg, CA · 25656 days ago · 6 km deep · 73 km away

Before

  1. 3.117km SE of Bodfish, CA · 25705 days ago · 2 km deep · 31 km away
  2. 2.721km NW of Tehachapi, CA · 25706 days ago · 6 km deep · 17 km away
  3. 3.18km N of Lamont, CA · 25726 days ago · 6 km deep · 22 km away
  4. 2.93km NE of Lake Isabella, CA · 25726 days ago · 3 km deep · 33 km away
  5. 2.814km S of Arvin, CA · 25727 days ago · 2 km deep · 39 km away
  6. 3.424km NE of Arvin, CA · 25731 days ago · 6 km deep · 7 km away

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Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event ci3295147. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:10 AM UTC.