M1.8 earthquake 9 km NE of Milpitas, California

A magnitude 1.8 earthquake struck 9 km NE of Milpitas, California on Sat, Oct 3, 1981, 8:29 PM PDT (03:29 UTC), 7 km (4 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.3 9 km ENE of Gilroy, 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: 107 in the 60 days after this one and 47 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 107.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1068267. Read Wed, Sep 30, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC.