Volcanic Activity Bulletins
Volcano Activity Bulletins (VABs) are New Zealand's official source of volcano status information including the current Volcanic Alert Level (VAL).
They are issued on an as needed basis summarising the volcano status and recent events.
They can indicate if activity is increasing, decreasing, or in a steady state. They may contain forecasts, highlight developing, or expected problems.
If you’d like to be notified as soon as we issue a new bulletin, our social media channels and the GeoNet app will keep you up-to-date.
Steam and gas plumes at Whakaari with minor volcanic ash. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and Aviation Colour Code is changed to Orange.
Whakaari/White Island is currently passively emitting a weak-to-moderate steam and gas plume that contains minor volcanic ash. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and the Aviation Colour Code is changed to Orange.
Reduced steam and gas plumes at Whakaari. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and Aviation Colour Code is lowered to Yellow.
Whakaari / White Island is continuing to emit steam and gas plumes. No further passive emission of volcanic ash has been observed. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2 and the Aviation Colour Code is lowered to Yellow.
Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake starts heating - minor volcanic unrest continues. Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.
Since mid-October the temperature of Te Wai ā-moe (Ruapehu Crater Lake) has been slowly heating. The current temperature is now around 18-19 °C, from a low of 8 °C in early October. We continue to measure low–moderate volcanic sulphur dioxide (SO₂) gas emissions, and low level of volcanic tremor. An eruption remains unlikely.
Larger steam and gas plumes with intermittent ash emissions at Whakaari. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and Aviation Colour Code is raised to Orange.
Whakaari / White Island is currently emitting larger steam and gas plumes. Occasional passive emission of volcanic ash has been observed. The volcano is not actively erupting but the current activity could be leading to a new eruptive episode. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2 and the Aviation Colour Code is raised to Orange.
Larger steam and gas plumes visible at Whakaari. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and Aviation Colour Code at Yellow.
Whakaari / White Island is currently emitting larger steam and gas plumes, but no ash has been detected. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2 and the Aviation Colour Code at Yellow.
Minor volcanic unrest continues at Mt Ruapehu as lake temperature slowly increases. Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.
Over recent months Te Wai ā-moe (Ruapehu Crater Lake) has remained cool but recent data suggest a weak heating trend is underway. The lake temperature is now around 10°C to 11°C, slightly up from the low of 8°C. Our gas monitoring sensors continue to measure low–moderate volcanic sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions, and volcanic tremor is still weak. An eruption remains unlikely. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1 and the Aviation Colour Code at Green.
End of eruption at Whakaari/White Island, steam and gas emissions remain variable. Volcanic Alert Level lowered to Level 2 and Aviation Colour Code changed to Yellow.
Based on observations from a monitoring flight on 18 October 2024, recent images from GeoNet’s cameras, and satellite imagery, we can confirm that the recent minor eruptive activity Whakaari/White Island has now stopped, with no further ash emission from the volcano.
Minor volcanic unrest continues at Mt Ruapehu as lake remains cool. Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.
Since our last activity bulletin on Ruapehu (29 August), the temperature of Te Wai ā-moe (Ruapehu Crater Lake) has remained cool, declining from 11°C to 8°C, the lowest temperature measured since 1970. Our volcanic gas monitoring continues to measure low-moderate volcanic sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions. An eruption remains unlikely.
Eruption may be declining at Whakaari/White Island but gas and ash emissions remain variable. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 3 and Aviation Colour Code at Orange.
Observations from an overflight, images from GeoNet cameras and satellite imagery combined, suggest that minor eruptive activity Whakaari/White Island may be declining. Minor ash emission does continue but seemingly at lower levels than in the past few weeks.
Low level eruption continues with variable gas and ash emissions at Whakaari/White Island. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 3 and Aviation Colour Code at Orange.
Images from GeoNet cameras and satellite imagery combined with data from gas-measurement flights on the 5th and 11th of September 2024, confirm that minor eruptive activity Whakaari/White Island continues.