USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-YVO-2026-08-01T14:58:28+00:00

Yellowstone Caldera activity remains at background levels, with 68 located earthquakes in July (largest = M3.3). Deformation measurements indicate no significant uplift of the north caldera rim since January 2026 and only minor uplift of the caldera since the beginning of the year.

Recent Work and News

In response to the small hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin on June 13, a new camera was installed in the area on July 22 with a view of both Black Diamond Pool (site of a hydrothermal explosion in 2024) and the June 13 explosion area.  Camera images are updated every 15 minutes at https://www.usgs.gov/media/webcams/biscuit-basin-webcam-0.  Scientists from the University of Utah and Yellowstone National Park also began the process of installing a new seismic and infrasound monitoring station in Upper Geyser Basin, near Geyser Hill, that will be brought online in August or September.  

Black Diamond Pool, in Biscuit Basin, had several eruptions of varying sizes throughout July.  Water temperature data indicate no clear eruptions and only one overflow event at Echinus Geyser, in Norris Geyser Basin, and nearby Steamboat Geyser had only minor eruptive activity during the month.

Seismicity

During July 2026, the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, responsible for the operation and analysis of the Yellowstone Seismic Network, located 68 earthquakes in the Yellowstone National Park region. The largest event of the month was a minor earthquake of magnitude 3.3 located about 5 miles south-southeast of Canyon Village in Yellowstone National Park on July 16 at 7:20 a.m. MDT.  This event was reported felt in some areas of the park.

July seismicity in Yellowstone was marked by a small swarm of 13 earthquakes located about 10 miles north-northeast of Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park and that occurred on July 17. The magnitudes ranged from M0.6 to M1.5.

Earthquake activity in Yellowstone is at background levels.

Ground Deformation

Data from continuous GPS stations indicate that the uplift that started in July 2025 on the north caldera rim ceased by mid-January 2026 and has not resumed.  Subtle uplift of the caldera itself amounted to about 1 cm or less (a fraction of an inch) over the course of the past few months, possibly due to seasonal variations associated with groundwater conditions.

An example of GPS data can be found at http://www.unavco.org/instrumentation/networks/status/pbo/data/NRWY (click on Static Plots / Cleaned)