M1.6 earthquake 9 km NE of Milpitas, California

A magnitude 1.6 earthquake struck 9 km NE of Milpitas, California on Wed, Dec 24, 1986, 11:22 PM PST (07:22 UTC), 7 km (4 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M2.9 10 km NW of Broadmoor, 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: 171 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 171.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc90995. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:33 PM UTC.