M3.0 earthquake 12 km W of Ferndale, California

A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck 12 km W of Ferndale, California on Fri, Dec 11, 1981, 5:16 PM PST (01:16 UTC), 21 km (13 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M5.2 85 km W of Trinidad, 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: 109 in the 60 days after this one and 45 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 109.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1070219. Read Sat, Oct 3, 2026, 6:43 AM UTC.