M2.0 earthquake 19km SSE of Carpinteria, CA

A magnitude 2.0 earthquake struck 19km SSE of Carpinteria, CA on Sun, Sep 6, 1981, 1:06 PM PDT (20:06 UTC), 12 km (7 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M2.2 21km 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: 194 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 194.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event ci522633. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:29 PM UTC.