M2.5 earthquake 40 km W of Big Lagoon, California

A magnitude 2.5 earthquake struck 40 km W of Big Lagoon, California on Mon, Mar 2, 1981, 12:03 PM PST (20:03 UTC), 5 km (3 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M2.7 12 km WNW of Ferndale, 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.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

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

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: 146 in the 60 days after this one and 52 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 146.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1060923. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 8:58 PM UTC.