M1.8 earthquake 7km E of Imperial, CA

A magnitude 1.8 earthquake struck 7km E of Imperial, CA on Tue, May 19, 1981, 1:16 PM PDT (20:16 UTC), 13 km (8 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M1.9 2km SSW of Brawley, 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: 195 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 195.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event ci516297. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 10:33 PM UTC.