June 27 Lava Flow Update – 12/10/14

Hawai’i County Civil Defense said Wednesday that the June 27 lava flow has advanced 300 yards in the past 24 hours, according to its most recent assessment.

The flow is currently moving in a north-northeast direction and is approximately 2.1 miles upslope of the Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road intersection.

According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the leading edge of the flow front varies in width, ranging from 90 yards to 360 yards. The flow has also taken a path of steepest decent that is leading it towards the intersection of Pahoa Village Road and Highway 130.

Activity is not currently posing an immediate threat to communities in the area. Continuous observation of the flow and its activity will be maintained by Civil Defense and HVO personnel.

Residents who live in the downslope area of the flow will remain informed of the flow’s current actions and status.

A HVO overflight Tuesday afternoon, done for mapping and observation, noted activity on the active lobe that branched off the west edge of the flow field. This lobe, downslope from the crack system, has advanced about 330 yards since Dec. 7. According to it’s report, HVO said that over the past two days, the average rate of this lobe is about 165 yards a day. This calculation is less than half the advance rate of the last week.

HVO is monitoring an additional lobe as a breakout from the lava tube on Dec. 5 remains weakly active. The lobe is about 1.6 miles from Puʻu ʻŌʻō. At the current time, it is about 0.6 miles long and has widened the flow field in the area by about 220 yards.

Civil Defense reported moderate to heavy smoke conditions in the immediate area of the flow. A light northwest wind is blowing the smoke in a southeast direction.

As usual, smoke conditions have the possibility of changing and individuals who have a history of respiratory issues are advised to take precautions and stay indoors.

Weak inflation has been occurring throughout the morning Wednesday after a prolonged phase of deflation. According to HVO, all other monitoring data indicates no significant changes at Puʻu ʻŌʻō.

Pahoa Village Road continues to remain open. Officials advise motorists to use caution as some of the protection materials on utility poles remains in place.

Additionally, officials remind the public to respect the privacy of residents who were affected by the lava, and stress that trespassing on private property is not permitted.