Ruapehu volcano (New Zealand): alert level raised due to increased degassing and heat output

The alert level of the volcano was raised by a notch from 1 to Level 2 (moderate to heightened unrest) last Wednesday, Geonet informed in a special note.
This was triggered by recent measurements that showed an increase in the degassing from Mt Ruapehu's Crater Lake, a rise in temperature from 25 to 45 deg C since mid April, and ongoing moderate levels of volcanic tremor (reflecting the degassing).
The Aviation Color Code was also raised from Green to Yellow.
Whether or not the volcano is going to produce a new eruption in the near or medium future is still far from certain. According to the Geonet, the volcano's current seismicity and increased heat flow are "not exceptional in terms of the last few years." The current unrest could (but not necessarily must) be a precursor of new volcanic activity at Ruapehu in the medium-term future (weeks to months), but it could as well remain a peak in temporary elevated internal activity only, such as the volcano's many regular heating cycles which typically do not escalate into eruptions.