M1.6 earthquake 31 km SE of Big Sur, California

A magnitude 1.6 earthquake struck 31 km SE of Big Sur, California on Thu, Sep 30, 1982, 12:18 PM PDT (19:18 UTC), 7 km (4 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M4.0 22 km SSW of Three Rocks, 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: 177 in the 60 days after this one and 102 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 177.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1079771. Read Thu, Oct 1, 2026, 9:22 PM UTC.