M1.8 earthquake 9 km WNW of Parkfield, California

A magnitude 1.8 earthquake struck 9 km WNW of Parkfield, California on Tue, Dec 4, 1990, 5:13 AM PST (13:13 UTC), 10 km (6 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M3.6 4 km N of Coalinga, 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: 98 in the 60 days after this one and 56 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 98.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc201750 (also filed as ci2008422). Read Sun, Oct 4, 2026, 2:55 PM UTC.