M1.8 earthquake 24 km ENE of Soledad, California

A magnitude 1.8 earthquake struck 24 km ENE of Soledad, California on Wed, Sep 17, 1986, 3:34 AM PDT (10:34 UTC), 3 km (2 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.7 24 km S of Big Sur, 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: 183 in the 60 days after this one and 101 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 183.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc82869. Read Tue, Sep 29, 2026, 5:49 PM UTC.