M2.3 earthquake 24 km WNW of Samoa, California

A magnitude 2.3 earthquake struck 24 km WNW of Samoa, California on Fri, Mar 20, 1981, 1:47 AM PST (09:47 UTC), 4 km (3 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M2.4 17 km WNW of Ferndale, 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: 185 in the 60 days after this one and 14 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 185.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1061500. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 4:24 PM UTC.