M3.6 earthquake 17 km NW of Parkfield, California

A magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck 17 km NW of Parkfield, California on Wed, Feb 25, 1981, 12:45 AM PST (08:45 UTC), 5 km (3 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.8 36 km NW of San Simeon, 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: 98 in the 60 days after this one and 90 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 98.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1060742 (also filed as ci3317300). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC.