M2.8 earthquake 6 km E of Avenal, California

A magnitude 2.8 earthquake struck 6 km E of Avenal, California on Wed, Aug 21, 1985, 5:09 PM PDT (00:09 UTC), 12 km (8 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.0 6 km SSE of Huron, 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: 187 in the 60 days after this one and 9 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 187.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc53595 (also filed as ci70895). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 4:21 PM UTC.