No, not the “big one” (if such a thing is on the cards eventually for this ‘smoking mountain’s’ current active phase, at least during our lifetimes), but recently Popo does seem to be ramping up a little bit — it’s still in Yellow Phase 2 alert level, though.

As always, you can check out this Mexican volcano in more detail at this blog’s Popocatepetl page. You will find links to current official updates (in English), webcams, real-time webicorders, and more.

Here are this morning’s data as shared in today’s CENAPRED Spanish-language update (which I always have trouble linking to):

Volcanologists say this Colossus of Puebla is a “low deformation” system, so that slight increase in deformation over the last 24 hours, along with increased seismicity, is interesting.

The last time they did an overflight, a week or two ago (see older posts of mine on the Popocatepetl page — you’ll need to scroll down a little), they could not see a dome. So I have no idea what’s causing the explosions — perhaps a packet of “gassier” or “wetter” magma?

The summit has been socked in with weather lately, but the Chipiquixtle/Canario webcam up there caught good shots of explosions this morning, despite the sun glare:

Per Cenapred, ashfall is possible in the region of Ecatzingo and Atlautla, Estado de México [Mexico City and environs, basically]; Ayala, Cuautla, Jantetelco, Jonacatepec, Ocuituco, Temoac, Tetela del volcán, Yecapixtla and Zacualpan, in Morelos State; and in Acteopan, Atzizihuacan, Cohuean and Tochimilco, in the state of Puebla.

That’s on both sides of the volcanic range — there must not be strong atmospheric steering currents this morning.

Here’s the current (and routinely scheduled) CENAPRED update. These explosions were this morning, though, and if anything else happens, they may issue new updates later (update site):

In the last 24 hours, through the Popocatepetl volcano monitoring systems, 37exhalations were identified, accompanied by steam, gas and littles amounts of was not possible to observe the crater continuously. Additionally were recorded two explosions at 09:19 . . . y 09:47 h . . . today and 194 minutes of tremor.

At the time of this report, is not possible to observe the crater due the weather conditions, in case of exhalations the wind will disperse to the southwest . . .

CENAPRED emphasizes that people SHOULD NOT go near the volcano, especially near the crater, due to the hazard caused by ballistic fragments . . . and in case of heavy rains leave the bottoms of ravines because of the danger of landslides and debris flows.

The Volcanic Traffic Light Yellow Phase 2.