M1.8 earthquake Northern California

A magnitude 1.8 earthquake struck in Northern California on Mon, Dec 21, 1981, 3:02 AM PST (11:02 UTC), 4 km (3 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M2.0 Northern 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: 148 in the 60 days after this one and 44 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 148.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1070517. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 10:33 PM UTC.