M2.1 earthquake 12 km S of Ruth, California

Magnitude

2.1 (Md, duration), micro

Magnitude from

Northern California Seismic System

Local time

Fri, Oct 20, 1978, 8:28 PM PDT

UTC

1978-10-21 03:28:45 UTC

Depth

1.8 km (1.1 mi), shallow

Epicenter

40.160° N, 123.337° W

Region

California

Tsunami flag

No

Status

Reviewed by a seismologist

Location uncertainty

About 8.9 km horizontally, 9.9 km in depth

Depth from

From location

Station coverage gap

290°, poorly surrounded by stations

Stations used

6

• Garberville, CaliforniaPopulation 913. Forecast39 kmE
• Fortuna, CaliforniaPopulation 12,000. Forecast85 kmSE
• Chico, CaliforniaPopulation 121,345. Forecast137 kmWNW
• Los Angeles, CaliforniaPopulation 3,820,914. Forecast815 kmNNW

After

1. 2.926 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaFri, Oct 20, 9:58 PM PDT · 17512 days ago · 19 km deep · 95 km away
2. 2.726 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaFri, Oct 20, 10:54 PM PDT · 17512 days ago · 19 km deep · 96 km away
3. 1.726 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaFri, Oct 20, 11:10 PM PDT · 17512 days ago · 19 km deep · 96 km away
4. 1.626 km SW of Ferndale, CaliforniaFri, Oct 20, 11:19 PM PDT · 17512 days ago · 18 km deep · 100 km away
5. 1.526 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaSat, Oct 21, 1:23 AM PDT · 17512 days ago · 18 km deep · 96 km away
6. 1.734 km NW of Shelter Cove, CaliforniaSat, Oct 21, 7:17 AM PDT · 17512 days ago · 5 km deep · 91 km away
7. 1.625 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaSat, Oct 21, 6:07 PM PDT · 17511 days ago · 19 km deep · 96 km away
8. 2.85 km E of Redcrest, CaliforniaSat, Oct 21, 8:34 PM PDT · 17511 days ago · 21 km deep · 53 km away
9. 1.6Northern CaliforniaSat, Oct 21, 8:51 PM PDT · 17511 days ago · 17 km deep · 55 km away
10. 1.614 km WSW of Scotia, CaliforniaSun, Oct 22, 2:38 PM PDT · 17511 days ago · 20 km deep · 84 km away
11. 1.918 km SW of Ferndale, CaliforniaSun, Oct 22, 10:17 PM PDT · 17510 days ago · 25 km deep · 96 km away
12. 1.833 km SW of Scotia, CaliforniaMon, Oct 23, 12:56 PM PDT · 17510 days ago · 22 km deep · 91 km away
13. 1.727 km SW of Scotia, CaliforniaMon, Oct 23, 9:08 PM PDT · 17509 days ago · 7 km deep · 84 km away
14. 1.68 km S of Ferndale, CaliforniaTue, Oct 24, 5:06 AM PDT · 17509 days ago · 6 km deep · 87 km away
15. 2.512 km N of Brooktrails, CaliforniaTue, Oct 24, 7:17 AM PDT · 17509 days ago · -1 km deep · 67 km away
16. 1.726 km SW of Scotia, CaliforniaThu, Oct 26, 1:34 PM PDT · 17507 days ago · 7 km deep · 83 km away
17. 2.08 km E of Willits, CaliforniaFri, Oct 27, 9:13 AM PDT · 17506 days ago · 10 km deep · 84 km away
18. 1.624 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaSat, Oct 28, 1:45 PM PDT · 17505 days ago · 19 km deep · 95 km away
19. 2.16 km NE of Willits, CaliforniaSat, Oct 28, 8:43 PM PDT · 17504 days ago · 5 km deep · 80 km away
20. 3.327 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaSat, Oct 28, 9:33 PM PDT · 17504 days ago · 19 km deep · 95 km away
21. 1.727 km SW of Ferndale, CaliforniaSat, Oct 28, 10:00 PM PDT · 17504 days ago · 23 km deep · 97 km away
22. 1.99 km NE of Mad River, CaliforniaSun, Oct 29, 3:18 PM PST · 17503 days ago · 38 km deep · 39 km away
23. 2.117 km WSW of Scotia, CaliforniaSun, Oct 29, 10:18 PM PST · 17503 days ago · 19 km deep · 85 km away
24. 1.624 km SW of Scotia, CaliforniaMon, Oct 30, 2:18 AM PST · 17503 days ago · 26 km deep · 85 km away
25. 2.711 km ENE of Cleone, CaliforniaMon, Oct 30, 10:29 AM PST · 17503 days ago · 12 km deep · 75 km away
26. 2.513 km WNW of Brooktrails, CaliforniaMon, Oct 30, 1:11 PM PST · 17503 days ago · 12 km deep · 77 km away
27. 2.63 km WNW of Ferndale, CaliforniaMon, Oct 30, 8:17 PM PST · 17502 days ago · 21 km deep · 95 km away
28. 1.625 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaThu, Nov 2, 5:24 PM PST · 17499 days ago · 18 km deep · 95 km away
29. 1.614 km WSW of Scotia, CaliforniaThu, Nov 2, 11:56 PM PST · 17499 days ago · 28 km deep · 83 km away
30. 2.215 km S of Hayfork, CaliforniaSat, Nov 4, 3:08 AM PST · 17498 days ago · 21 km deep · 31 km away
31. 1.78 km NE of Trinity Village, CaliforniaSat, Nov 4, 11:20 AM PST · 17498 days ago · 22 km deep · 86 km away
32. 1.816 km WSW of Scotia, CaliforniaSat, Nov 4, 8:29 PM PST · 17497 days ago · 20 km deep · 85 km away
33. 2.04 km N of Redcrest, CaliforniaSun, Nov 5, 12:21 AM PST · 17497 days ago · 21 km deep · 61 km away
34. 2.411 km NNW of Potter Valley, CaliforniaMon, Nov 6, 2:38 AM PST · 17496 days ago · 4 km deep · 84 km away
35. 2.610 km NNW of Potter Valley, CaliforniaMon, Nov 6, 7:21 AM PST · 17496 days ago · 3 km deep · 84 km away
36. 1.69 km S of Ferndale, CaliforniaMon, Nov 6, 11:30 AM PST · 17496 days ago · 18 km deep · 87 km away
37. 1.731 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaMon, Nov 6, 7:29 PM PST · 17495 days ago · 25 km deep · 95 km away
38. 1.616 km WSW of Scotia, CaliforniaMon, Nov 6, 9:23 PM PST · 17495 days ago · 19 km deep · 84 km away
39. 1.632 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaTue, Nov 7, 3:05 AM PST · 17495 days ago · 10 km deep · 93 km away
40. 1.89 km E of Willits, CaliforniaTue, Nov 7, 7:48 AM PST · 17495 days ago · 8 km deep · 86 km away
41. 1.54 km WSW of Weott, CaliforniaTue, Nov 7, 10:46 AM PST · 17495 days ago · 25 km deep · 56 km away
42. 1.79 km S of Burnt Ranch, CaliforniaTue, Nov 7, 11:47 AM PST · 17495 days ago · 20 km deep · 63 km away
43. 1.99 km SW of Scotia, CaliforniaTue, Nov 7, 12:30 PM PST · 17495 days ago · 23 km deep · 75 km away
44. 2.326 km NE of Potter Valley, CaliforniaTue, Nov 7, 3:57 PM PST · 17494 days ago · 14 km deep · 79 km away
45. 2.019 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaTue, Nov 7, 5:10 PM PST · 17494 days ago · 32 km deep · 93 km away
46. 1.78 km W of Rio Dell, CaliforniaWed, Nov 8, 7:02 AM PST · 17494 days ago · 20 km deep · 82 km away
47. 1.626 km SW of Ferndale, CaliforniaWed, Nov 8, 10:45 PM PST · 17493 days ago · 23 km deep · 99 km away
48. 3.824 km NE of Potter Valley, CaliforniaSun, Nov 12, 5:07 AM PST · 17490 days ago · 18 km deep · 80 km away
49. 2.119 km NE of Potter Valley, CaliforniaSun, Nov 12, 5:09 AM PST · 17490 days ago · 4 km deep · 83 km away
50. 2.024 km NE of Potter Valley, CaliforniaSun, Nov 12, 5:41 AM PST · 17490 days ago · 11 km deep · 81 km away
51. 1.827 km NE of Potter Valley, CaliforniaSun, Nov 12, 6:16 AM PST · 17490 days ago · 15 km deep · 79 km away
52. 2.425 km NE of Potter Valley, CaliforniaSun, Nov 12, 12:18 PM PST · 17490 days ago · 13 km deep · 79 km away
53. 1.725 km NE of Potter Valley, CaliforniaSun, Nov 12, 5:54 PM PST · 17489 days ago · 13 km deep · 80 km away
54. 1.65 km SW of Scotia, CaliforniaMon, Nov 13, 2:47 AM PST · 17489 days ago · 26 km deep · 76 km away
55. 1.813 km NE of Phillipsville, CaliforniaMon, Nov 13, 5:20 PM PST · 17488 days ago · 25 km deep · 33 km away
56. 1.616 km WSW of Scotia, CaliforniaTue, Nov 14, 11:34 AM PST · 17488 days ago · 24 km deep · 85 km away
57. 1.58 km NW of Mad River, CaliforniaTue, Nov 14, 11:59 AM PST · 17488 days ago · 27 km deep · 44 km away
58. 2.117 km SW of Scotia, CaliforniaWed, Nov 15, 3:35 PM PST · 17486 days ago · 27 km deep · 80 km away
59. 3.011 km SSW of Scotia, CaliforniaWed, Nov 15, 8:48 PM PST · 17486 days ago · 26 km deep · 72 km away
60. 1.935 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaWed, Nov 15, 11:04 PM PST · 17486 days ago · 24 km deep · 99 km away

The first 60 of 97.

Before

1. 2.06 km ENE of Willits, CaliforniaWed, Oct 18, 11:32 PM PDT · 17514 days ago · 11 km deep · 82 km away
2. 2.09 km ESE of Willits, CaliforniaWed, Oct 18, 9:51 AM PDT · 17515 days ago · 8 km deep · 88 km away
3. 1.69 km S of Ferndale, CaliforniaSun, Oct 15, 5:15 AM PDT · 17518 days ago · 18 km deep · 87 km away
4. 2.19 km NNE of Redcrest, CaliforniaSun, Oct 15, 12:32 AM PDT · 17518 days ago · 22 km deep · 61 km away
5. 1.515 km WSW of Burnt Ranch, CaliforniaSat, Oct 14, 11:18 PM PDT · 17518 days ago · 33 km deep · 70 km away
6. 1.923 km SSW of Scotia, CaliforniaSat, Oct 14, 6:59 PM PDT · 17518 days ago · 2 km deep · 75 km away
7. 2.8near the coast of Northern CaliforniaSat, Oct 14, 5:50 PM PDT · 17518 days ago · 22 km deep · 99 km away
8. 1.6Northern CaliforniaSat, Oct 14, 12:45 AM PDT · 17519 days ago · 32 km deep · 46 km away
9. 1.612 km S of Ferndale, CaliforniaFri, Oct 13, 7:19 AM PDT · 17520 days ago · 23 km deep · 86 km away
10. 2.29 km ESE of Willits, CaliforniaThu, Oct 12, 3:08 PM PDT · 17521 days ago · 8 km deep · 88 km away
11. 2.712 km E of Hayfork, CaliforniaThu, Oct 12, 10:24 AM PDT · 17521 days ago · 4 km deep · 50 km away
12. 2.25 km WSW of Hyampom, CaliforniaThu, Oct 12, 8:17 AM PDT · 17521 days ago · 24 km deep · 51 km away
13. 1.79 km N of Ruth, CaliforniaThu, Oct 12, 6:27 AM PDT · 17521 days ago · 19 km deep · 22 km away
14. 2.025 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaWed, Oct 11, 2:27 PM PDT · 17522 days ago · 19 km deep · 93 km away
15. 1.511 km SSW of Ferndale, CaliforniaMon, Oct 9, 6:03 AM PDT · 17524 days ago · 26 km deep · 92 km away
16. 1.811 km NE of Brooktrails, CaliforniaSun, Oct 8, 8:26 AM PDT · 17525 days ago · 5 km deep · 73 km away
17. 1.913 km SSW of Willow Creek, CaliforniaSat, Oct 7, 9:48 AM PDT · 17526 days ago · 8 km deep · 81 km away
18. 1.716 km SW of Ferndale, CaliforniaFri, Oct 6, 10:42 PM PDT · 17526 days ago · 22 km deep · 99 km away
19. 2.118 km SW of Ferndale, CaliforniaFri, Oct 6, 9:57 PM PDT · 17526 days ago · 23 km deep · 100 km away
20. 3.916 km SW of Ferndale, CaliforniaFri, Oct 6, 9:47 PM PDT · 17526 days ago · 23 km deep · 99 km away

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1042935. Read Thu, Oct 1, 2026, 10:21 AM UTC.