Hekla
Seismicity by period · derived statistics from Skjálftalísa (Icelandic Met Office)
Status (automatic)
No particular signs of unrest in the last 24 hours — 0 earthquakes recorded, within the system's normal range.Depth — 3D and cross-section Hekla · last 90 days
Each dot is an earthquake, depth as the third dimension — Hekla, last 90 days. Drag the 3D view to rotate; point at a dot for details.
3D (rotatable) · depth ×2.5
Cross-section — distance along profile (km) vs depth (km)
Map (top view)
<24 klst2–7 dolderunconstrained depthsize ∝ magnitude (M)
⚠ Preliminary depths, unreliable (automatic Met Office solutions; depth often poorly constrained). events with unconstrained (default) depth shown as open rings — not real structure. For illustration, not analysis.
🕰️ Last eruption / event — 26 years ago
The 2000 Hekla eruption (2000-02-26). Average interval between eruptions is 10-30 years — within the long-term range. Hekla gives only 30-90 minute warning, the shortest of all Icelandic volcanoes.
One of Iceland's most active and famous volcanoes, with frequent eruptions (last 2000) and notably short warning — often only hours. (overview — more at vedur.is) · circle on the map = rough outline of the system (radius).
📜 Did you know?
Hekla was called "the Gateway to Hell" in medieval times — Herbert of Clairvaux wrote in 1180 that the souls of the damned flew there. The 1104 eruption (Hekla's largest historical eruption, VEI 5) destroyed Þjórsárdalur valley and the farm Stöng, now Iceland's most famous archaeological site. She erupts with only 30-90 minutes of warning — the shortest precursor of any Icelandic volcano.
Historical eruptions in the system — points colored by size, blue circle shows where we are now in time.
❓ What if Hekla erupts tomorrow?
Timeline: Hekla erupts with only 30-90 minutes warning — the shortest of any Icelandic volcano. Behaviour: Plinian explosive opening (10-30 min) with high ash column (10-25 km — 1947 reached 24 km). Then lava flow down the western flank. Ash: Wind-dependent. South and Southeast Iceland usually worst affected (cf. 2000, 1991, 1980, 1947, 1845). Aviation: Domestic flights Reykjavík-Egilsstaðir/Höfn close. Ring Road east of Selfoss at risk. Health: Fluoride poisoning of livestock — farmers at risk areas need to monitor. No settlements directly at risk. Sources: Recent eruptions (2000, 1991, 1980, 1970), Met Office hazard maps.
This is not a forecast. Based on historical experience and official hazard assessments from the Met Office / Civil Protection.
Points = earthquake locations in the selected window, coloured by magnitude: ● M3+ · ● M2+ · ● smaller (a sample if more than 800).
Earthquakes
0
Largest
–
M3,0+
0
Depth range
–
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 0 earthquakes · count moment
Depth (0 km at top).
Not enough depth data.
Magnitude distribution
Earthquakes
2
Largest
M-0.0
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–8 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 2 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M-0.0 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top).
Not enough depth data.
Magnitude distribution
Earthquakes
34
Largest
M1.5
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–17 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 34 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M1.6 · count moment
No significant hypocenter migration — activity is stationary (R²=0.22, n=34); no sign of a propagating dike. Migration shows automatically if R²≥0.30.
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Earthquakes
54
Largest
M2.7
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–17 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 54 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M2.7 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Earthquakes
182
Largest
M2.7
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–17 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 182 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M2.7 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Note: before February 2026 about half of events lacked an automatic magnitude, so magnitude-dependent figures (b-value, count of M≥X) under-count earlier periods — the catalogue is not homogeneous across this window. Cumulative moment is barely affected.
Earthquakes
362
Largest
M2.7
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–20 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 362 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M2.7 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Note: before February 2026 about half of events lacked an automatic magnitude, so magnitude-dependent figures (b-value, count of M≥X) under-count earlier periods — the catalogue is not homogeneous across this window. Cumulative moment is barely affected.
Depth is automatic and uncertain; earthquakes alone do not show magma movement — deformation (GPS) and gas are needed. Grey points: automatic fixed-depth values. b-value computed for M≥1.5 (automatic magnitudes make lower completeness unreliable). Preliminary data.
Uplift — GNSS deformation
SODU — land subsiding ~60 mm/yr (árstíða-leiðrétt)
REYK (Reykjavík) — reference ~-2 mm/yr
Up = land rising (possible magma accumulation), down = subsidence. From Nevada Geodetic Lab (third-party processing, ~3-week lag, latest 2026-05-02). Interpreted deformation: Icelandic Met Office.
🌊 Volcanic tremor — The seismic tremor baseline is normal and should only be compared to recent days since wi…
IMO tremor plot (station fed). Most of the signal is weather and surf — not eruption confirmation. All stations: vedur.is.
The seismic tremor baseline is normal and should only be compared to recent days since wind and waves do not reliably affect this station. (AI)
Band analysis past 9 days (from digitized RSAM values). High 2-4 Hz + low 0.5-1 Hz = possible magma-movement signal; high 0.5-1 Hz without 2-4 Hz = weather/surf.
Earthquakes in the system
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Depth | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-09 05:35 | M-0.0 | 0.4 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-08 19:53 | M-0.7 | 8.4 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-07 21:50 | M1.5 | 1.1 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-07 15:13 | M-0.9 | 0.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-07 10:46 | M-0.3 | 8.1 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-07 10:46 | M-0.1 | 8.1 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-07 10:44 | M-0.6 | 12.2 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-07 10:41 | M-0.5 | 11.6 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-07 10:40 | M-1.2 | 3.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-07 10:39 | M-0.7 | 12.3 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-07 10:39 | M-1.3 | 12.5 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-06 21:56 | M-0.2 | 10.8 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-06 15:42 | M0.1 | 0.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-06 07:04 | M0.3 | 5.1 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-05 23:21 | M-0.2 | 8.5 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-05 17:00 | M0.6 | 15.7 | Önnur svæði |
| 2026-06-05 02:36 | M-0.0 | 8.5 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 21:09 | M-0.1 | 16.9 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 21:09 | M-0.8 | 5.3 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 21:09 | M-0.3 | 0.1 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 20:55 | M-0.5 | 8.6 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 20:55 | M-0.1 | 1.0 | Önnur svæði |
| 2026-06-04 20:55 | M-0.4 | 5.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 18:50 | M-0.3 | 0.0 | Önnur svæði |
| 2026-06-04 18:42 | M0.0 | 12.6 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 17:51 | M0.1 | 11.1 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 17:28 | M-0.0 | 12.9 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 16:13 | M0.1 | 5.5 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 16:02 | M-0.3 | 0.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 13:02 | M-0.1 | 5.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 12:13 | M0.1 | 7.7 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-04 10:41 | M1.1 | 8.7 | Önnur svæði |
| 2026-06-04 10:00 | M-0.3 | 3.4 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-03 11:13 | M-0.3 | 0.0 | Önnur svæði |
| 2026-06-02 11:45 | M1.0 | 5.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-02 09:29 | M-0.3 | 0.6 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-02 09:07 | M-0.1 | 9.9 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-01 23:07 | M0.4 | 0.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-01 15:22 | M-0.1 | 17.3 | Hekla |
| 2026-06-01 14:12 | M2.7 | 3.2 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-31 23:27 | M0.5 | 13.5 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-31 23:08 | M1.5 | 8.5 | Önnur svæði |
| 2026-05-31 15:58 | M1.1 | 10.7 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-31 03:23 | M0.9 | 1.1 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-30 17:10 | M1.7 | 1.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-30 17:10 | M1.3 | 0.5 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-28 17:44 | M-0.5 | 0.5 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-28 17:41 | M-0.2 | 0.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-28 17:30 | M0.2 | 2.8 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-28 17:30 | M0.6 | 0.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-26 10:32 | M-0.4 | 1.6 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-26 04:27 | M-0.1 | 9.5 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-22 22:58 | M0.6 | 6.2 | Önnur svæði |
| 2026-05-22 04:00 | M1.3 | 0.4 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-10 19:15 | M1.1 | 9.6 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-10 03:28 | M0.9 | 7.9 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-07 11:34 | – | 5.4 | Hekla |
| 2026-05-07 03:03 | M0.0 | 7.9 | Hekla |
| 2026-04-23 04:01 | M0.5 | 8.0 | Hekla |
| 2026-04-18 07:03 | M0.4 | 7.8 | Hekla |
System journal
Automatic snapshots and media coverage, in chronological order. Subscribe: RSS · ntfy
skjalftar-hekla2026-06-06 15:45:06 UTC
In the last 24 hours, four earthquakes were recorded at Hekla, indicating activity similar to the past week and within normal levels for this area. The seismicity is characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around August 28, 2024. GNSS data from the SODU station indicates subsidence of approximately 60 mm per year based on several-week-old measurements. These automatic preliminary results are based solely on numerical data, with further details available below.2026-06-02 11:50:15 UTC
In the last 24 hours, six earthquakes were recorded at Hekla, representing an increase compared to the weekly average, though activity remains within normal levels for this area. The increase is characterized by distributed background seismicity rather than short-lived swarms and most closely resembles the period around August 28, 2024. The largest earthquake was magnitude M2.7, and GNSS data from the SODU station indicates subsidence of approximately 60 mm per year. These results are automatic preliminary findings, and further details are available below.2026-06-01 14:14:39 UTC
In the last 24 hours, four earthquakes were recorded at Hekla, indicating increasing activity that is considerably higher than usual for this area. The increase is characterized by distributed background seismicity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around August 28, 2024. The largest earthquake was M2.7 and subsidence at the SODU GNSS station is approximately 60 mm per year according to automatic preliminary results. Further details on maps and trends are available below.2026-05-31 23:27:04 UTC
In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded at Hekla, one of Iceland's most active volcanoes, indicating unusually high distributed background activity compared to the area's normal rate. The largest event was magnitude M1.7 with a cumulative moment of Mw 1.9 over the past 48 hours, while GNSS data shows subsidence of approximately 60 mm per year. These automatic preliminary results resemble the activity period around August 28, 2024, and further details are available below.2026-05-31 16:07:03 UTC
In the last 24 hours, four earthquakes were recorded at Hekla, indicating considerably higher activity than usual for this area and suggesting an increase. The activity is characterized by distributed background seismicity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around August 28, 2024. The largest earthquake was M1.7 with a cumulative magnitude of Mw 1.8 over the past 48 hours, while GNSS data at SODU shows subsidence of approximately 60 mm/year. These automatic preliminary results are based solely on numerical data, and further details are available below.2026-05-31 03:47:04 UTC
In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded at Hekla, one of Iceland's most active volcanoes, indicating unusually high distributed background activity compared to the area's normal rate. The largest event was magnitude M1.7 with a cumulative moment of Mw 1.8 over the past 48 hours, while GNSS data shows subsidence of approximately 60 mm per year. These automatic preliminary results resemble the activity period around August 28, 2024, and further details on trends and deformation are available below.What do the numbers mean — and what should I do?
β (swarm signal): how high activity is versus the area's 2-year average. β above 2 means an ongoing swarm. It measures activity, not a forecast of a large quake.
Cumulative moment (Mw): the combined energy of the quakes in the period. Uplift (GNSS): whether the ground is rising or sinking, mm per year — the data are a few weeks old. Some systems (e.g. Svartsengi) deform in steps during eruption cycles rather than at a steady annual rate.
Swarm character is computed for a whole volcanic belt, not a single system — it describes the belt, not necessarily this one system.
What should I do? This is automatic monitoring for information — not an official warning. Follow official information from the Icelandic Met Office and Civil Protection (112).
Data: Icelandic Met Office (Skjálftalísa API), automatic preliminary results — may change. This is not an official warning. Official warnings: vedur.is and Civil Protection (112).