M1.6 earthquake 21 km NE of Soledad, California

A magnitude 1.6 earthquake struck 21 km NE of Soledad, California on Sat, Jan 17, 1981, 7:44 AM PST (15:44 UTC), 6 km (4 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M1.9 23 km NE of San Lucas, 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: 196 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 196.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1059368. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 4:13 PM UTC.