Early Morning Ash Plume Reaches 15,000 Feet

Aerial view of Kīlauea Volcano’s summit caldera and an ash plume billowing from Halema‘uma‘u, a crater within the caldera. May 27, 2018. PC: Civil Air Patrol.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018, 2:15 a.m

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that an ash eruption at Kīlauea summit occurred at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday, May, 29, 2018.

The resulting ash plume reached 15,000 feet high and may affect the surrounding areas.

The wind is blowing in the northwest direction and ash fall out may affect the areas of Volcano, Pahala, Na‘alehu.

Be on the alert.

​Due to the volcanic activity, the following is provided for your awareness:

If you are at home, stay indoors with the windows closed. If you are outside, seek cover

If you are in the car, keep the windows closed. Ash fallout may cause poor driving conditions, due to likmited visibility and slippery driving conditions. Drive with extreme caution, or pull over and park.

After the hazard has passed, check your home, and especially your catchment system for any impact that may affect your water quality.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT

Monday, May 28, 2018, 10:59 p.m.

Kīlauea Volcano Summit

Ash continued to erupt intermittently from the vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, at Kīlauea’s summit. Winds have weakened and shifted in direction so that ash fall could occur in communities around the summit area.

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake occurred at 5:39 p.m. on the Koa’e fault zone south of the caldera. Earthquakes in the summit region continue as the summit area subsides and adjusts to the withdrawal of magma.

Additional explosive events that could produce minor amounts of ash fall downwind are possible at any time. Volcanic gas emissions at the summit remain high.

For forecasts of where ash would fall under forecast wind conditons, please consult the Ash3D model output here.

Information on ash hazards and how to prepare for ashfall maybe found here.