M1.8 earthquake 22 km S of Benton, California

A magnitude 1.8 earthquake struck 22 km S of Benton, California on Sat, Sep 20, 1986, 2:46 AM PDT (09:46 UTC), 5 km (3 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.3 19 km ENE of Swall Meadows, 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: 200 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 200.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc83305. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 8:45 PM UTC.