M3.3 earthquake 36 km SW of Ferndale, California

A magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck 36 km SW of Ferndale, California on Mon, Sep 21, 1981, 11:01 PM PDT (06:01 UTC), 27 km (17 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.3 10 km SW of Mad River, 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: 186 in the 60 days after this one and 13 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 186.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1067832. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:40 PM UTC.