M1.5 earthquake 33 km NW of Benton, California

A magnitude 1.5 earthquake struck 33 km NW of Benton, California on Tue, Dec 24, 1985, 12:14 AM PST (08:14 UTC), 3 km (2 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.7 4 km NW of Round Valley, 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: 117 in the 60 days after this one and 50 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 117.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc62113. Read Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 1:50 PM UTC.