Volcano in Mexico

Popocatepetl volcano: eruption status today

Updated

Popocatepetl is active now: NASA lists an open volcanic activity event (latest report Apr 10, 2025) 0 earthquakes within 50 km in the past 7 days.

Live status of Popocatepetl: whether it is erupting now, satellite hot spots, earthquakes around it, and what an eruption would mean for nearby cities and flights.

Status now
Active (NASA EONET) latest report Apr 10, 2025
Last eruption
1964 or later last significant: 2022
Elevation
5,393 m 17,694 ft
Type
Stratovolcano
Earthquakes within 50 km
0 past 30 days (USGS)
Hot spots within 10 km
0 latest NASA FIRMS VIIRS data
Nearest city
Cholula 34 km E

Open on the live map

Is Popocatepetl erupting right now?

NASA's Earth Observatory Natural Event Tracker (EONET) has an open volcanic event for Popocatepetl, last updated Apr 10, 2025 (564 days ago). EONET opens an event when agencies such as the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program report eruptive activity or unrest, and closes it when activity ends.

No satellite thermal hot spot was detected within 10 km of the summit in the latest NASA FIRMS data, so there is no sign of lava at the surface large enough for VIIRS to see (clouds can hide it).

Earthquakes near Popocatepetl

USGS has no earthquake within 50 km of Popocatepetl in the past 30 days. Outside the United States USGS mainly lists quakes above about M4, so small volcanic tremors recorded by the local observatory will not appear here.

About Popocatepetl

Popocatepetl is a stratovolcano in Mexico, rising to 5,393 m (17,694 ft). NOAA NCEI classes its eruptive history as "Historical".

Stratovolcanoes are steep cones built from alternating lava and ash layers; their eruptions are often explosive, with ash columns that can reach cruising altitude.

The nearest large town is Cholula, about 34 km E of the summit; 5 other cities lie within 250 km.

Flights and volcanic ash

1 major airport is within 400 km; the closest is Mexico City (MEX), 66 km away. Volcanic ash melts in jet engines, so an explosive eruption can close airspace and cancel flights even far downwind.

Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAACs) issue the official ash advisories that airlines and air traffic control follow.

AirportDistanceDirection
Mexico City (MEX)66 kmNW

Other volcanoes in Mexico

Mexico has 8 volcanoes on this site that erupted since 1900 or are active now.

Volcanoes in Mexico

More

Data: NOAA NCEI Volcano Locations, NASA EONET (open volcano events), USGS earthquakes, NASA FIRMS (VIIRS hot spots), Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program.