M2.5 earthquake 20km S of Carpinteria, CA

A magnitude 2.5 earthquake struck 20km S of Carpinteria, CA on Sat, Aug 22, 1981, 2:39 PM PDT (21:39 UTC), 10 km (6 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M2.9 13km N of Santa Barbara Is., 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: 196 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 196.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event ci521595. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:29 PM UTC.