Alert Level Rises at Whakaari/White Island for First Time in 2025
- Holly Grundy
- Apr 22
- 1 min read
GNS Science issued a Volcanic Activity Bulletin last week for Whakaari/White Island, raising the alert level from 2 to 3 — the first change this year.
Volcanologist Geoff Kilgour explained that the alert level rise was not triggered by an eruption, but instead reflects a gradual increase in volcanic activity observed on the island.
“Evidence of intermittent explosive activity has also been observed during recent observation and gas flights, which is what led us to make the alert level change,” said Kilgour.
Although the alert level 3 is classified as a minor volcanic eruption, residents in coastal areas have little to worry about in terms of ash fall reaching land.
“We do not expect ash fall on the Bay of Plenty coastline,” Kilgour added. “However, during northerly wind conditions, locals might notice a sulphur odour caused by the minor ash load in the steam and gas plume.”
Despite the alert level change, the aviation color code remains at orange, and monitoring of the volcano is ongoing.
Information and advice about the impacts of the steam and gas plume or volcanic ash is also available online at BOP Emergency Management site, NEMA and Health New Zealand.
