In 2025, Yellowstone National Park experienced continued low-level geological activity, highlighted by recurring, minor hydrothermal explosions in Biscuit Basin following the major July 2024 event. The area saw 1,119 earthquakes (below average), a brief pause in caldera subsidence during summer, and localized ground uplift near the Norris Geyser Basin.
During December 2025, the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, responsible for the operation and analysis of the Yellowstone Seismic Network, located 79 earthquakes in the Yellowstone National Park region.
If another large, caldera-forming eruption were to occur at Yellowstone, its effects would be worldwide. Such a giant eruption would have regional effects such as falling ash and short-term (years to decades) changes to global climate.
Officials determined that minerals had formed a seal in the plumbing system underneath the Black Diamond Pool in the Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin, causing pressure to build up just below the surface of the pool.
Black Diamond Pool (Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park) eruption on May 31, 2025 | U.S. Geological Survey.
Can we survive a Yellowstone eruption? A massive eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano would spread deadly ash for thousands of miles, killing plant life and affecting humans in its path. Humans who were in its path would surely die, but it would not mean the extinction of the entire human race.
NEW ORLEANS — One year ago, scientists made a surprisingly concrete prediction: Before 2025 was out, they said, Axial volcano — a submerged seamount near Oregon in the Northern Pacific Ocean — would erupt. That hasn't happened. But it still might — in 2026. Read more from ScienceNews.
The 7.3-magnitude quake, which caused 18 miles of surface faulting and was felt across 600,000 square miles, decimated a popular campground at the height of tourist season. On the evening of August 17, 1959, around 250 visitors slept throughout the Madison River canyon near Hebgen Lake, just west of Yellowstone.
The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory said a large eruption at Yellowstone “will not lead to the end of the human race,” however it would have global impacts and would impact the entire state of Colorado.
The most recent period of dormancy has already lasted 70,000 years and may continue for thousands of additional years. “Yellowstone will reawaken someday to host more eruptions. But volcanoes like Yellowstone don't erupt without warning. We'd expect months of intense activity prior to any future eruption.”
Yes, reports indicate a heated on-set altercation between Kevin Costner and Wes Bentley on Yellowstone, involving pushing and shoving after Bentley refused to deviate from Taylor Sheridan's script, which briefly halted production and escalated tensions leading to Costner's eventual exit, although Costner's departure was officially attributed to creative differences and focusing on his Horizon films. Bentley's rep confirmed an argument occurred but called it a "work related argument," while sources claim the incident was a "line in the sand".
Yes, a Yellowstone spinoff centered on Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) is officially confirmed, tentatively titled The Dutton Ranch, picking up after the original series, following them on their 7,000-acre property, with Kelly Reilly teasing it will be "quite different," potentially exploring their new life away from the main ranch and addressing unresolved issues like Beth's infertility and her relationship with Jamie Dutton.
There were 1136 located earthquakes in the Yellowstone region in 2025, which is on the low end of average.
Indicators of an Impending Volcano Eruption
This comes out to an average of about 725,000 years between eruptions. That being the case, there is still about 100,000 years to go, but this is based on the average of just two time intervals between the eruptions, which is meaningless. Most volcanic systems that have a supereruption do not have them multiple times.
Scientists say it is not likely the Yellowstone Volcano will erupt anytime soon - in the video below, John Sherer reports on how their research supports that theory. Scientists are saying that new research shows an eruption of the Yellowstone volcano is unlikely anytime soon. But what is soon?
Anyone within 100 miles would be dead close to immediately due to pyroclastic flow. Most others are going to be buried under the ash (necessitating shelter-in-place scenarios.) Preparations should be to get away from the ash if you can, or shelter in place. That requires at least an N95 (or p100) filters.
In the immediate term after a supereruption, it would likely mean a lot of ash and major impacts to human life. All three of the last major eruptions at Yellowstone coated the entire state of Colorado (and beyond) with ash. And given Colorado's proximity to Yellowstone, it's likely this ash would be quite thick.
Effects of a major eruption: When the Yellowstone Caldera, or "supervolcano," in Yellowstone National Park erupts again, "its effects would be worldwide," the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Ask medieval historian Michael McCormick which year was the worst to be alive, and he's got an answer: "536." In that year, a mysterious fog plunged Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia into darkness, day and night—for 18 months.
Notable precursors to an eruption might include:
Noticeable steaming or fumarolic activity and new or enlarged areas of hot ground. Subtle swelling of the ground surface. Small changes in heat flow. Changes in the composition or relative abundances of fumarolic gases.