M2.5 earthquake Central California

A magnitude 2.5 earthquake struck in Central California on Sun, Mar 16, 1986, 7:23 AM PST (15:23 UTC), 5 km (3 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M2.6 20 km S 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: 113 in the 60 days after this one and 50 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 113.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc68165 (also filed as ci119078). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:29 PM UTC.