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Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

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The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.

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To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.

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Current Updates and Notifications
Yellowstone
green NORMAL, 2026-06-01 16:55:15 UTC

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) is a consortium of nine state and federal agencies who provide timely monitoring and hazard assessment of volcanic, hydrothermal, and earthquake activity in the Yellowstone Plateau region. The USGS arm of YVO is also responsible for monitoring and reporting on volcanic activity in the intermountain west U.S. states.

Young Volcanoes in AZ, CO, MT, NM, UT and WY

High Threat Potential 1

Yellowstone

Moderate Threat Potential 1

Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field

Dotsero Volcanic Center

San Francisco Volcanic Field

Valles Caldera

Low to Very Low Threat Potential 1

Carrizozo Lava Flow

Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field

Red Hill-Quemado Volcanic Field

Uinkaret Volcanic Field

Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field



1. View the threat rankings of US Volcanoes. 

Yellowstone Monitoring Map

Image of Yellowstone Volcano monitoring map.

The monitoring map for Yellowstone has moved to the top of the volcano and volcano observatory home page. 

See Data

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles

Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

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YVO Quick Links

News

The fascinating history of Imperial Geyser

The fascinating history of Imperial Geyser

Young mountains, old rocks: A geological overview of the Teton range

Young mountains, old rocks: A geological overview of the Teton range

Beyond Yellowstone’s boardwalks: A glimpse into the remote caldera systems of Alaska

Beyond Yellowstone’s boardwalks: A glimpse into the remote caldera systems of Alaska

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Publications

The first instrumentally detected hydrothermal explosion in Yellowstone National Park The first instrumentally detected hydrothermal explosion in Yellowstone National Park

Hydrothermal explosions are one of the geological hazards most likely to impact people in Yellowstone National Park, but their frequency is poorly known. Infrasound and seismic sensors identified an explosion in Norris Geyser Basin on 15 April 2024, at 14:56 MDT (20:56 UTC)—the first instrumentally detected hydrothermal explosion in the Yellowstone region. The event affected an area tens...
Authors
Michael Poland, Alexandra M. Iezzi, Jamie Farrell, R. Greg Vaughan
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Astrogeology Science Center, Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Magmatic volatiles in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field: The knowns, the unknowns, and the uncertainties Magmatic volatiles in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field: The knowns, the unknowns, and the uncertainties

The Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field has a large magmatic system supplying heat and mass into the overlying hydrothermal system. To interpret changes in the composition and/or emission rates of hydrothermal fluids as possible indicators of volcanic unrest requires discriminating between magmatic, crustal, hydrothermal, and hybrid sources and processes. Significant progress in...
Authors
Shaul Hurwitz, Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Lithium from magma to mine in an early Yellowstone hotspot caldera Lithium from magma to mine in an early Yellowstone hotspot caldera

Renewable energy technologies rely on the extraction of metals not historically in high demand, such as lithium (Li), for which ore deposit models are incompletely understood. One of the world’s largest Li deposits is hosted in lake sediments of the 16.4 Ma McDermitt caldera, which formed during the early stages of Yellowstone hotspot volcanism in the western United States. Eruptive and
Authors
Kathryn E. Watts
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
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Multimedia

blue pool in a barren area with a treed ridge in the background under blue sky and a small steam vent in the middle ground blue pool in a barren area with a treed ridge in the background under blue sky and a small steam vent in the middle ground
Water spouting on June 18, 2026, from a new thermal pool that formed shortly after a small hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, on June 13, 2026
Circular pool of boiling water in a barren area strewn with rocks with a forested ridge in the distance under blue sky.
Pool of boiling water that formed via collapse a few days after the June 13, 2026, hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Pool of boiling water that formed via collapse a few days after the June 13, 2026, hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Aerial view with a muddy pool at the bottom and barren ground in the middle with blue polygons showing new vent locations
Locations of new features associated with June 13, 2026, small hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Locations of new features associated with June 13, 2026, small hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Barren, steaming ground with a water-filled crack trending away from the photographer
Northern-most water-filled fracture that formed on June 13, 2026, near Black Diamond Pool, Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Northern-most water-filled fracture that formed on June 13, 2026, near Black Diamond Pool, Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
steaming blue pool in low-light dawn conditions with an explosive steam plume in the background steaming blue pool in low-light dawn conditions with an explosive steam plume in the background
Video of small hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin on June 13, 2026
River with milky blue-green color mixing with normal dark blue, and some trees along the grassy banks under partly cloudy sky
Firehole River from Midway Geyser bridge on the morning of June 13, 2026
Firehole River from Midway Geyser bridge on the morning of June 13, 2026
steaming blue pool in low-light dawn conditions with an explosive steam plume in the background
Screen capture showing onset of a small hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, on June 13, 2026
Screen capture showing onset of a small hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, on June 13, 2026
Smiling man in blue shirt pointing at rainbow-colored hot spring with text "Top Visitor Questions" Smiling man in blue shirt pointing at rainbow-colored hot spring with text "Top Visitor Questions"
Top visitor questions about Yellowstone's thermal areas (Yellowstone Monthly Update - June 2026)
four soccer fields with warm colors indicating the positions over a game of a goalkeeper, defender, winger, and striker
Simulated heat maps for different soccer positions
Simulated heat maps for different soccer positions
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Young Volcanoes in AZ, CO, MT, NM, UT and WY

High Threat Potential 1

Yellowstone

Moderate Threat Potential 1

Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field

Dotsero Volcanic Center

San Francisco Volcanic Field

Valles Caldera

Low to Very Low Threat Potential 1

Carrizozo Lava Flow

Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field

Red Hill-Quemado Volcanic Field

Uinkaret Volcanic Field

Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field



1. View the threat rankings of US Volcanoes. 

Volcanoes Hazards Program Links

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