M3.6 earthquake 14km ENE of Coso Junction, CA

A magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck 14km ENE of Coso Junction, CA on Tue, Dec 15, 1981, 12:05 AM PST (08:05 UTC), -1 km (-1 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.8 10km NNE of Ridgecrest, 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: 104 in the 60 days after this one and 60 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 104.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event ci103254 (also filed as usp0001hea). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 10:02 AM UTC.