#Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Large eruptive plumes produced by the ongoing episodic summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano, which contain high concentrations of volcanic gases and tephra, and wind direction are the key to this answer.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that the window for the next lava fountaining episode of the ongoing episodic eruption that began Dec. 23, 2024, is now between Saturday, May 30, and Monday, June 1.

The base of Mauna Loa sitting on top of the old oceanic crust is only 6 miles below sea level, so the major magnitude-6.0 earthquake the night of Friday, May 22, happened deeper than the volcano — even deeper than the base of the ocean crust, which is bent downward by the weight of the Hawaiian Island chain.

Homes were rattled off their foundations, cracks appeared in walls, windows were broken, giant boulders blocked residents in, stone walls collapsed, power went out and more following the magnitude-6.0 temblor just before 10 p.m. Friday, May 22.

Episode 47 of lava fountaining during the ongoing episodic summit eruption of the Big Island volcano tied the 1983-86 initial phase of the Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption on Kīlauea, which had a total of 47 events, for the most fountaining episodes ever recorded — so far — at the volcano; so how do these historic eruptions compare?

The latest Big Island volcano eruption with vibrant lava fountaining from the north vent of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater lasted nine hours before pausing again.

The onset of episode 47 lava fountaining is forecasted at any time.

Webcam observations of small spatter bursts indicate that lava is close to the surface in the eruptive vents, according to a report from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory this morning.

In March, a team of U.S. Geological Survey scientists, including two from Hawaiʻi, visited El Salvador in Central America for volcanological field studies and a workshop on lava flow hazards.

Episode 46 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption is forecast to start before Thursday, May 7.

These past eruptions outside Halemaʻumaʻu are evidence that such eruptions could also occur in the future; and while there have been ongoing earthquakes beneath Kīlauea’s summit, they are not indicative of an imminent eruption along the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu.

Conditions in and around the closed area at the summit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park can evolve quickly, and elevate the risk of rockfalls, ground cracking and other potentially life‑threatening hazards.

On Tuesday afternoon, shallow earthquakes are being detected beneath the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, as well as localized ground deformation in the south caldera region of Kīlauea summit.

Comparing different eruptions can be a bit like comparing apples to oranges. But no matter how you compare, the ongoing eruption made an impression in terms of its longevity, with two active vents and impacts to areas downwind, including the changing topography of the summit.

The outage started about 1:45 p.m. Saturday, April 11; despite the partial outage, remaining data coming into the observatory are sufficient to allow the observatory’s researchers to detect major changes at Hawaiian volcanoes.

As increased activity signals lava fountainin to begin within the next week, stay informed of the potential impacts, including ash and vog emissions, which may affect the north and northeast regions of Hawaiʻi Island.

There were no overflows from either of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruptive vents in the past 24 hours, according to the daily update from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that the temblor struck about 2 miles east-northeast of Pāhala in Kaʻū on the south-southeast side of the island at a depth of just 2 miles; it had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes.

With weather forecasts calling for a shift of winds coming from the south, visitors should be prepared for tephra, volcanic gas and potential temporary closures with upcoming Episode 44 of ongoing episodic eruption at Big Island volcano’s summit.

Forecasters say if lava fountaining happens, varying levels of ash, Pele’s hair and other lightweight tephra could fall downwind of the summit. Smaller particles can travel farther from the summit and could affect communities at greater distances.