Scientists on high alert as threat levels for three US volcanos have risen to suggest eruptions may be unavoidable
There's more doom and gloom in 2025, as US scientists are on high alert for three potential volcanic eruptions that could soon blow their top.
The USA is no stranger to volcanic eruptions, with movies like Dante's Peak and the Tommy Lee Jones-led Volcano not being as far-fetched as you might think.
In terms of destructive power, 1980's Mount St. Helens eruption in Washington claimed the lives of 57 and is considered the most disastrous volcanic eruption in US history.
Although US eruptions tend to be a far cry from the likes of Pompeii or 1815's Mount Tambora eruption in Indonesia leading to up to 250,000 deaths, they still need to be taken seriously.
Advert
Now, the US Geological Survey (USGS) is keeping Alaska's Great Sitkin volcano on a watch list due to it 'exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest'.
It comes after the same state's Mount Spurr has been placed as 'Advisory' for showing signs of 'unrest'.
Small earthquakes from Great Sitkin have been accompanied by lava erupting from the summit crater.
Great Sitkin being on 'Watch' puts it at level three of a four-level warning system. The same goes for it being coded orange on the Aviation color codes, with only red being a worse designation.
As for Mount Spurr, the USGS has seen its seismic activity spike in the last 10 months, with scientists saying there's a 50-50 chance that it could soon erupt.
Earthquakes have soared from an average of 30 per week to 125 per week since April 2024.
Mount Spurr is 75 miles west of Anchorage, and with it being Alaska's most populated city, there are obvious concerns about an eruption.
It's not just Alaskan residents who should be concerned, with Hawaii's Kilauea volcano putting on a fiery display on February 11. It's the ninth eruption since December 2024, with lava flying 300 feet into the air.
Despite Kilauea being inside the Big Island's secluded Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, there are worries about its ash clouds and ability to blow shards of volcanic glass toward people.
Although no residential areas have been affected, onlookers have been flocking to the park's overlook sites to get a closer look at the eruption.
The fact that Kilauea is known as one of the world's most active volcanoes means it's not too much cause for concern, but as for Great Sitkin and Mount Spurr, they pose more of a problem.
Mount Spurr last erupted in 1992 and forced Anchorage airport to close, and while similar activity occurred in 2004 without an eruption, the USGS will be keeping a close eye on it.
It comes after scientists used AI to predict that the underwater Axial Seamount volcano could erupt, while the USGS keeps continuous tabs on the 169 active volcanoes spread across the USA.
Great Sitkin volcano sits on an unpopulated island surrounded by water, so even though its environmental damage could be huge, it seems unlikely that anyone will be killed if this angry volcano can't keep its cool.