Wildfires and earthquakes are by far the most common natural disasters here in California, but they aren’t the only ones. They may not be talked about as much, but volcanoes also pose a substantial threat to the Golden State. The United States Geological Survey put together a list of 18 volcanoes across the country that they considered “very high threat volcanoes”, and three of them are located here in Northern California. Our state hasn’t seen a volcanic eruption in over a century, but according to this survey, these volcanoes may be due any day now – geologically speaking. Here are the details about the most dangerous volcanoes in Northern California:

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released a list back in 2018 of the most dangerous volcanoes in the country, ranked according to how large a threat they pose.
John Elk III via Getty Images
This list was the first time the ranking was updated since 2005, and in the top 18 wasn't just one California volcano, but three!
The list can be found here and on it, you can see that each volcano on the list gets two scores: an overall threat score and an aviation threat score.
tristanbnz via Getty Images
Hawaii's Kilauea topped the list as the most dangerous volcano in the country, but several California hot spots were not far behind.
The three California spots that made the top 18 - the section that contains "very high threat" volcanoes - were Mount Shasta, Lassen volcanic center, and Long Valley Caldera.
Walter Bibikow via Getty Images
Mount Shasta was ranked as the most dangerous of all California volcanoes, ranking as fifth overall.

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The volcanoes' two scores are based on several factors that the USGS took into consideration when compiling the list.
John Elk via Getty Images
The overall threat score looks specifically at 24 different factors, like how often it erupts, nearby population size, and how powerful its eruptions are.
Alternatively, the aviation threat score specifically focuses on flight-centric factors, like how close the volcano is to an airport and what flight paths are nearby.
Leon C Salcedo via Getty Images
Although looking at these numbers can be scary, it's important to remember that there are typically warning signs of a volcano explosion beforehand and there are always scientists on the lookout for them.
The last time California experienced a volcanic eruption was when Mount Lassen started pouring volcanic debris between 1914 and 1917, sending volcanic ash as far away as Elko, Nevada.
LassenNPS/Wikimedia Commons
Today, more than 190,000 Californians live within a volcano hazard zone, like the town of Weed beneath Mount Shasta and Mammoth Lakes in the Long Valley region.
There have only been four volcanic eruptions in the United States since the country's founding, but TWO of them were here in Northern California - Lassen Peak in 1914, and Mount Shasta in, possibly, 1786.
S.R. Brantley/Wikipedia
The other two were Oregon's Mount Hood in the mid-1800s and Washington's Mount St. Helen's with several eruptions over the past 300 years.

What do you think about these rankings? Were you surprised to see so many of our state’s volcanoes considered high risk? What are your thoughts about the most dangerous volcanoes in Northern California? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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Most Dangerous Volcanoes in Northern California

Tori Jane | July 26, 2021

What kind of natural disasters in Northern California are there?  

Northern California may not be in a place like tornado alley, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t see its fair share of natural disasters. In fact, California is a rather disaster-prone state, so to speak, with many dangerous possibilities. The most common natural disaster here is by far wildfires, which, as the climate continues to change, continue to increase in episodes and intensity. Floods also pose a problem during the rainy months, as nearly every neighborhood is quite flood-prone. You’ll also likely feel the rumble of an earthquake or two, and during the rainy months, one also must keep in mind the risk of landslides, especially in areas on or below hillsides.  

Where are some dangerous places in Northern California? 

Just like everywhere else, Northern California, unfortunately, has its own share of dangerous and risky places. Some of the most dangerous cities in NorCal per 100,000 residents are Oakland, Stockton, San Bernardino, Compton, and Modesto. In terms of dangerous nature, Northern California is home to Yosemite National Park, which is thought to be the most dangerous national park in the state. In fact, it’s the second-most-dangerous park in the entire United States, coming in just behind the Grand Canyon in Arizona. For more details about this park and the risks visitors face while touring it, take a look at this article. 

Are there any active volcanoes in Northern California? 

There most certainly are! Northern California is a very fascinating place geologically speaking (okay, speaking in a lot of ways). There are a total of eight volcanic areas in NorCal, and at least seven of those have molten lava below the surface. Mount Shasta is the most dangerous of the active volcanoes, and it’s the fifth-most dangerous volcano in the USA. These volcanoes are considered active by the US Geological Survey, and they can erupt at any time (though most of them aren’t “due” any time soon).  

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