Explosive activity at Sheveluch volcano, Kamchatka, Russia, sent volcanic ash to 11 km (36 000 feet) above sea level on March 29, 2026, prompting authorities to raise the Aviation Color Code to Red.
Explosive activity at Sheveluch volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, produced a volcanic ash plume rising to approximately 10.4 km (34 000 feet) altitude at 11:20 UTC on March 16, 2026, drifting east across the North Pacific. Satellite imagery from Himawari-9 detected the ash cloud moving east at around 110 km/h (70 mph). The Aviation Color Code remains at Orange.
An explosive pulse at Sheveluch volcano, Kamchatka, Russia, around 04:54 UTC on January 28, 2026, sent ash to about 9 km (30 000 feet) above sea level, with a plume drifting west over the Kamchatka Peninsula. Tokyo VAAC advisories through 12:00 UTC indicate continuing ash, with tops between 6 km (19 700 feet) and 7 km (23 000 feet) after the initial 9 km (30 000 feet) eruption.
Moscow sent two military cargo planes to deliver heavy snow-clearing equipment to Kamchatka on January 22, 2026, after historic snowfall claimed two lives last week. More than 2 m (7 feet) of snow fell in the first half of January, followed by another 3.7 m (12.1 feet) in December, burying entire homes and paralyzing the region.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 struck near the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia, at 12:42 UTC on January 22, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 52.2 km (32.4 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
A powerful winter storm struck the Kamchatka Peninsula overnight on January 13, 2026, dropping 30% of the region’s monthly precipitation in 24 hours. Small avalanches were reported in snow-covered neighborhoods across the region. The storm added to existing accumulations from previous winter storms, one of which brought the heaviest snowfall on record to Moscow between January 8 and 9.
A powerful explosive eruption took place at Bezymianny volcano in Kamchatka, Russia, on November 26, 2025, with ash reaching 11.4 km (37 400 feet) a.s.l., as of 04:00 UTC. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red due to ongoing explosions that could affect regional and international flights.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia, at 03:45 UTC on November 4, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit near the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia at 13:28 UTC on October 9, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 57 km (35 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. There is no tsunami threat from this event.
Kronotsky volcano in Kamchatka, Russia, erupted at 03:50 UTC (15:50 LT) on October 4, 2025, ending a century of dormancy. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) reported an explosive eruption with an ash column reaching 9.2 km (30 180 feet) above sea level. Aviation Color Code was raised to Red. KVERT warns that additional ash emissions rising up to 15 km (49 200 feet) remain possible.
