The August 23, 1962 earthquake

M5.9near Hiouchi, California

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake 15.5 miles deep, centred in Del Norte County. The 102nd strongest in California’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 6.5 on July 14, 1918.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.9; moment magnitude (mw)
Depth: 15.5 mi; 25.0 km below the surface
Local time: Thursday, August 23, 1962; 12:29 PDT; 19:29 UTC
Epicentre: 41.84°N, 124.05°W; In Del Norte County
In California’s record: 102nd; strongest of 97,065 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 6; counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event iscgem875211 (“5 km NNE of Hiouchi, California”). The USGS event page carries the ShakeMap, felt reports and the official summary.

Counties and cities within 50 miles

Distance from the epicentre to each county boundary (zero when inside) and to each city centre.

Counties

Del Norte CountyCA · inside
Curry CountyOR · 13.9 mi
Josephine CountyOR · 15.9 mi
Siskiyou CountyCA · 17.7 mi
Humboldt CountyCA · 25.8 mi
Jackson CountyOR · 43.6 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

66 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

Earlier earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 50 miles, strongest first

July 14, 1918M6.5

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog. Local time is the time zone of the county nearest the epicentre. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them.