Hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone National Park creates a new thermal pool and a 20-foot crater of boiling water.

A hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone National Park's Biscuit Basin on June 13, 2026, created a 21-foot-wide thermal pool and a 60-foot fissure, with water spouting up to 30 feet high. The explosion occurred at 5:09 a.m. local time and did not cause any injuries, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).¹³

Geologists noted that the event was a 'relatively small' hydrothermal explosion, yet it underscores the unstable and hazardous nature of hydrothermal activity in the region. Monitoring equipment had detected anomalous activity prior to the explosion, including seismic signals and infrasound from the direction of the Black Diamond Pool, where a similar explosion occurred in July 2024.⁵⁶

The explosion resulted in large volumes of hydrothermal water surging into the Firehole River from three sets of newly formed vents. The new thermal pool is filled with boiling, silty water and has experienced intermittent spouting episodes, reaching heights of 20 to 30 feet. This event provides an unprecedented opportunity to better understand hydrothermal hazards in Yellowstone.

“Identifying a precursor to hydrothermal explosions will help keep people safe in Yellowstone and around the world,” said a geologist from the observatory.⁴

The explosion emphasizes the dynamic nature of Yellowstone's volcanic network, which remains a focus of ongoing research and monitoring efforts.