M3.7 earthquake 29 km NNW of Benton, California

A magnitude 3.7 earthquake struck 29 km NNW of Benton, California on Fri, Apr 17, 1981, 4:35 PM PST (00:35 UTC), 5 km (3 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M4.2 26 km NNW of Benton, California. This one was a foreshock.

Map

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

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

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

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: 168 in the 60 days after this one and 31 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 168.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp0001d73 (also filed as ci514570). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 5:20 PM UTC.