Yellowstone is restless. Honestly, that shouldn't surprise anyone who has ever stood near Old Faithful and felt the low-frequency hum of the earth, but lately, the data coming out of the park has people talking. If you've been scrolling through social media, you might think the "big one" is finally here.
It isn't.
But something is definitely happening. As of mid-January 2026, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) and the University of Utah have been tracking a series of seismic shifts that are, quite literally, changing the shape of the park.
The Reality of Earthquakes in Yellowstone Today
Right now, the park is sitting at a "Green" or "Normal" alert level. Don't let that fool you into thinking it's boring, though. In the last month alone, we've seen nearly 80 earthquakes rattle the region. Most of these are tiny—we're talking magnitude 1.0 or 2.0. You wouldn't even feel them if you were standing right on top of the epicenter. The largest one recently was a 2.7 near Lake, which is barely enough to rattle a coffee cup.
What’s actually interesting isn't the number of quakes, but where they are happening and what they're doing to the ground.
There is a weird "bulge" happening. Since July, a stretch of land near the north caldera rim—basically just south of Norris Geyser Basin—has been rising. It’s called the Norris Uplift Anomaly. The ground has moved up by about an inch.
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One inch.
It sounds like nothing, right? But when thousands of tons of rock move an inch, the earth screams. That screaming comes in the form of the earthquakes in yellowstone today that show up on the USGS sensors.
Why the ground is bulging
Mike Poland, the Scientist-in-Charge at YVO, has been pretty vocal about this. It's not necessarily magma. Usually, when Yellowstone starts "breathing" like this, it’s actually hydrothermal fluids—basically super-heated water and gas—trying to find a way out. They get trapped under a layer of rock, pressure builds, the ground lifts, and pop, you get a swarm of small earthquakes as the rock cracks to let the steam through.
The Biscuit Basin Surprise
We can't talk about recent seismic activity without mentioning the "kablooey" at Biscuit Basin. While the big hydrothermal explosion happened back in 2024, the area is still incredibly jumpy. In December 2025, Black Diamond Pool had at least three mini-eruptions.
These aren't your typical geyser shows.
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They are violent, muddy bursts caught on acoustic monitors and cameras. They happen because the seismic plumbing underneath the park is constantly shifting. When a small earthquake happens near a thermal feature, it can shake loose "mineral scales"—basically the gunk inside the pipes—and cause a sudden pressure release.
- Total Quakes last month: 79
- Largest Event: Magnitude 2.7
- Deformation: 2-3 cm of uplift near Norris
- Steamboat Geyser: Just had its third eruption of the season on New Year's Eve
It's a dynamic system. It's supposed to move.
Misconceptions About the "Supervolcano"
Everyone loves a good doomsday story. You’ve probably seen the headlines: "Yellowstone is Overdue!"
Except, volcanoes don't work on a schedule.
The idea that Yellowstone is "overdue" for a massive eruption is a total myth. The three big ones happened roughly 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 630,000 years ago. If you do the math, the intervals are huge and inconsistent. Plus, the magma chamber right now is mostly solid. Scientists estimate it’s only about 15% to 20% "mush," which is way too thick to erupt. It would need to be closer to 50% liquid to even think about a major event.
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The real danger in Yellowstone isn't a massive explosion. It’s the stuff we’re seeing right now: hydrothermal explosions and moderate earthquakes. A magnitude 6.0 or 7.0 earthquake is a much bigger threat to visitors than a volcanic eruption. Remember the 1959 Hebgen Lake quake? That was a 7.2 and it caused a massive landslide. That’s the kind of power this place hides.
What This Means for Your Next Trip
If you're planning to visit the park this winter or spring, don't cancel your plans. The seismic activity we're seeing is what geologists call "background levels." It’s just Yellowstone being Yellowstone.
However, you should keep an eye on the Norris area. Because of that uplift anomaly, the thermal features there are extra spicy. Steamboat Geyser is still active, and the ground deformation could lead to more frequent "burps" from the smaller pools.
Actionable Steps for the Weather and Seismic Watcher:
- Check the YVO Monthly Update: The USGS releases a video every month explaining exactly what the "bulge" is doing.
- Monitor the Live Seismographs: You can actually watch the "squiggles" in real-time on the University of Utah’s seismic network website.
- Respect the Closures: If a boardwalk is closed near Biscuit Basin or Norris, stay off it. The ground can be literally paper-thin over boiling water when seismic shifts occur.
- Download the USGS Earthquake App: Set alerts for the 44.4°N, 110.6°W coordinates if you want to be the first to know when a swarm starts.
The earthquakes in Yellowstone today are a reminder that we live on a living planet. It’s not a sign of the end times, just a sign that the world's most famous hydrothermal system is getting its morning stretch. Keep your camera ready and your ears open—the park always has something to say.