M3.0 earthquake 6 km W of Big Lagoon, California

A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck 6 km W of Big Lagoon, California on Wed, Nov 18, 1981, 1:34 AM PST (09:34 UTC), 14 km (9 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.8 33 km W 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: 81 in the 60 days after this one and 82 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 81.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1069540. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 2:17 PM UTC.