M1.6 earthquake 5 km W of Willows, California

A magnitude 1.6 earthquake struck 5 km W of Willows, California on Sat, May 17, 1986, 12:40 AM PDT (07:40 UTC), 5 km (3 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.3 6 km W of Cobb, 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: 161 in the 60 days after this one and 91 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 161.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1138347. Read Mon, Sep 28, 2026, 10:59 AM UTC.