M1.7 earthquake 33 km SW of Ferndale, California

A magnitude 1.7 earthquake struck 33 km SW of Ferndale, California on Fri, Oct 9, 1981, 4:08 PM PDT (23:08 UTC), 35 km (22 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M1.8 10 km SW of Trinity Village, 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: 160 in the 60 days after this one and 39 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 160.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1068475. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:33 PM UTC.