A new thermal steam vent has emerged in Yellowstone National Park, located about one mile north of the Norris Geyser Basin, and is attracting attention due to its visibility from a nearby road.

Scientists first discovered the vent last summer, measuring steam venting at 171 degrees Fahrenheit and noting a thin layer of gray mud that indicates its recent formation.

The United States Geological Survey reported that the steam vent is situated at the base of a rhyolite lava flow, approximately 10 feet above marshland, in an area with hydrothermally altered ground extending 200 feet.

The steam plume is thought to be connected to a hot water feature that emerged 700 feet away in 2003, and is situated within a 200-foot area of warm ground.

The vent remained active through fall 2024, with a strong steam plume visible during cold mornings, although its activity decreased as winter approached.

As winter progressed, the visibility of the steam plume diminished, and its status for summer 2025 remains uncertain due to potential water accumulation in the vent.

Mike Poland, scientist in charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, noted that while the formation of new thermal features is common in Yellowstone, the visibility of this vent makes it particularly noteworthy.

Tourists will be able to view the steam column when park roads reopen in April 2025, as long as the vent remains active.

Despite occasional geological events, such as a hydrothermal explosion last summer, geologists assert there is no imminent threat of a volcanic eruption in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park contains over 100 major hydrothermal areas and is estimated to have more than 10,000 additional hydrothermal features within its boundaries.

The park's thermal features are dynamic; while some come and go, iconic features like Old Faithful Geyser continue to operate reliably.

Currently, only 10% to 30% of the magma chamber beneath Yellowstone contains liquid magma, and there are no indications of an imminent eruption.