M1.9 earthquake 12 km SW of Cayucos, California

A magnitude 1.9 earthquake struck 12 km SW of Cayucos, California on Thu, May 7, 1981, 12:46 PM PDT (19:46 UTC), 19 km (12 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.2 14 km SW of Cambria, 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: 34 in the 60 days after this one and 25 in the 30 days before it.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1063387 (also filed as ci515587). Read Fri, Oct 2, 2026, 2:53 PM UTC.