M3.1 earthquake 18km SSW of Carpinteria, CA

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake struck 18km SSW of Carpinteria, CA on Mon, Jul 20, 1981, 9:31 PM PDT (04:31 UTC), 13 km (8 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.6 5km N of Los Alamos, CA. 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: 200 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 200.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event ci519687 (also filed as usp0001eue). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:40 PM UTC.