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Largest U.S. Cities in Yellowstone's Eruption Zone

Oh no! The Yellowstone super volcano just erupted. What are the most populous metro areas that were covered in hot ash?
Map only shows areas covered in hot ash. Doesn't include raining ash.
2022 population estimates
Quiz by FlabberBapper
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Last updated: May 22, 2023
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First submittedAugust 22, 2020
Times taken18,750
Average score65.0%
Rating4.45
3:15
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Population
City
2,985,871
Denver
2,209,494
Kansas City
1,266,191
Salt Lake City
976,671
Omaha
811,336
Boise
765,424
Colorado Springs
729,053
Des Moines
Population
City
715,001
Provo
713,839
Ogden
650,039
Wichita
366,778
Fort Collins
350,176
Greeley
342,448
Lincoln
327,468
Boulder
Population
City
289,592
Sioux Falls
258,663
Fargo
231,783
Topeka
214,630
Columbia
206,549
Bend
190,208
Billings
+12
Level 68
Aug 22, 2020
It's beautiful...
+29
Level 73
Aug 22, 2020
No u
+2
Level 68
May 31, 2023
Happy Jish FP day
+1
Level 83
Aug 23, 2020
nice quiz .hard for a non America but I got 12 despite missing two I should have got .
+5
Level 84
Aug 23, 2020
Great quiz! Glad to see it got featured. Well done, Flabber!
+1
Level 56
Aug 24, 2020
Zoomable Circle plz...
+8
Level 62
Aug 24, 2020
Have no fear, folks. The eruption of Yellowstone would be an extinction level event for humans, regardless of where they lived.
+10
Level 69
Sep 5, 2020
After the last few years, I’m honestly thinking that might not be such a bad idea. We had a good run (for some definitions of “good” anyway). I say we wrap it up and call it a civilization.
+6
Level ∞
May 23, 2023
Definitely not an extinction event.
+3
Level 82
Aug 26, 2020
Well if it happens in my lifetime I'll have a front row seat for the big event.
+7
Level 42
Aug 28, 2020
Don't worry Calgary will be fine. Canadian Customs won't let it in. What a stupid quiz.
+28
Level 44
Feb 5, 2021
"Largest U.S. Cities in Yellowstone's Eruption Zone"
+2
Level 73
Aug 12, 2023
Yeah this quiz would be a lot better if it included Canadian cities. Still, as a non-American, this type of quiz (area of the U.S. on a map, name the cities) is one of my favourite, and this specific one was a great idea.
+8
Level 82
Aug 28, 2020
If this thing ever blows it's going to be bad for Bangkok and Sydney, too, and all the cities inbetween.
+2
Level 71
Aug 28, 2020
This was a fun quiz even though it was super hard. 8/20 :'(
+2
Level 76
Aug 28, 2020
Greeley? I don't think so. Try Aurora.
+1
Level 62
Aug 28, 2020
West Valley City?
+2
Level 71
Aug 28, 2020
Amazing quiz! Just out of curiosity, why does the ash appear to spread farther to the east than to the west?
+4
Level 82
Aug 28, 2020
I guess that's because there are mountains (Rocky) to the west and great plains to the east.
+2
Level 73
Aug 28, 2020
Probably that and a mix of wind speed and direction.
+1
Level 76
May 23, 2023
Good to know we have a wind forecast for that day.
+3
Level 84
May 23, 2023
@Jerry - on a large (continental) scale, we have a pretty good idea. Global Circulations are well known and while they do vary, the underlying patterns are pretty reliable.

For anyone interested, there's tons of info at www.noaa.gov and www.weather.gov

+3
Level 70
Aug 29, 2020
A lot of folks shall have their ruins smoted upon the mountainside.
+1
Level 65
Nov 28, 2023
I'm pretty sure the ash plume would be higher than the mountains...
+1
Level 65
Nov 28, 2023
Jetstream...
+3
Level 60
Aug 28, 2020
What, Columbia is larger than Jefferson City?
+6
Level 67
Aug 28, 2020
Yeah, if it was not the capital of Missouri, Jefferson City would be pretty insignificant.
+3
Level 75
Aug 28, 2020
Columbia is a city with a big university and medical centers. Jeff City just has state politics and a prison, and MO spends as little as possible on state politics. Years ago I was helping plan a young farm women's conference and was surprised to see that the head of the state secondary education department had a tiny cubicle in a large room with other department heads. Then I met with a professor at Mizzou in Columbia and she had a large, carpeted office with two secretaries in outer offices. I mentioned the large difference to the state head and he said that's state funding versus federal. He said people in his department bring their own brown bag lunches, too, while those at the land grant university had expense accounts.
+1
Level 65
Nov 28, 2023
Carpet isn't a flex. 🤣
+1
Level 20
Aug 31, 2020
Des moines... the capital of the IOWA OF HECK xd
+1
Level 66
Aug 6, 2022
Why is Boulder not separated from Denver?
+2
Level 73
Aug 6, 2022
It is, the dots represent population not the literal area of the city.
+5
Level 82
May 4, 2023
Someday I'm going to remember Colorado Springs exists, but clearly that day is not today
+1
Level 84
May 22, 2023
You should make the cities class "zoomable-circle".
+2
Level 79
May 23, 2023
Maybe link to the Wikipedia page you got data from? I was baffled by these numbers until I found it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_statistical_area. Grew up in CO and have never considered Greeley a 'metro area.'
+2
Level 92
May 23, 2023
0:52 on first try.

I think I'm starting to get comfortably knowledgeable about US cities...except for California, still only know about 1/2 of those.

+4
Level 85
May 23, 2023
Glad the volcano respects international borders.
+1
Level 65
Nov 28, 2023
"Largest US cities..." 🙄
+1
Level 48
May 31, 2023
Fort Collins OBVIOUSLY