M1.7 earthquake 3 km ENE of Avenal, California

A magnitude 1.7 earthquake struck 3 km ENE of Avenal, California on Wed, Aug 14, 1985, 3:37 PM PDT (22:37 UTC), 5 km (3 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M4.0 11 km ENE of Coalinga, 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: 199 in the 60 days after this one and at least 200 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 199.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc52970. Read Wed, Sep 30, 2026, 8:10 PM UTC.