Small Lava Flow Breaks Out Within Puʻu ʻŌʻo

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Crater Thermal from the North Rim as of 9:15 a.m. USGS/HVO image.

A small lave flow broke out within the Puʻu ʻŌʻo crater early Tuesday morning.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that the breakout is “apparently continuing” into the mid-morning hours.

Puʻu ʻŌʻo has registered small and slow fluctuation within the past 24 hours, according to HVO. This activity may be associated with the breaks.

At about 3:20 a.m., a thermal cam began to report the small lava flow breaking out onto the crater floor opposite to the camera position.

HVO notes that “webcam images show somewhat stable conditions at Puʻu ʻŌʻo.”

The lava lake at the Halema’uma’u Crater Overlook Vent remains active. Circulation and lava spattering have been monitored via HVO webcams, along with small fluctuations in the lava lake surface level.

According to HVO, the lava lake surface was about 98 feet below the crater floor, as of 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Scattered surface lava flows also continue on the June 27, 2015 flow field. HVO scientists say that satellite images indicate that the active flows are about 4.2 miles northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻo. They are not threatening any communities.

Lava activity is within its normal realm.