This news story will be updated throughout the day as new information becomes available and new articles will be added to the website’s “News” section. Previous information about ongoing events can be found in Big Island Now’s “Volcano Blog” section.
CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE LAVA MAP FOR JULY 22, 2018
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports a collapse event with energy equal to a 5.3 magnitude earthquake has occurred at Halema‘uma‘u Crater at 8:54 p.m.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reports there is no tsunami threat to the island of Hawai‘i.
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ITS PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS ARE:
ORIGIN TIME – 0854 PM HST 22 JUL 2018
COORDINATES – 19.4 NORTH 155.3 WEST
LOCATION – IN THE SUMMIT REGION OF KILAUEA VOLCANO
MAGNITUDE – 5.3
Due to the volcanic activity, the following is provided for your awareness:
Residents in the area affected by earthquakes are advised to monitor utility connections of gas, electricity, and water after earthquakes.
Be on the lookout for road cracks while driving.
If ash is observed, stay indoors or seek cover.
Sunday, July 22, 2018, 11 a.m.: New Thermal Map, Collapse at Summit Expected
Fissure 8 continues to erupt lava into the channel leading northeastward from the vent. Overnight UAV flights made six flights over the active channel measuring surface velocities. No new significant overflows were reported. The most vigorous ocean entry is located a few hundred meters northeast of the southern flow margin with a few tiny pahoehoe toes were entering the ocean from the Kapoho Bay lobe to the north. The southern margin of the flow remains about .3 miles from the boat ramp at Isaac Hale Park.
This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 21. The fountain at Fissure 8 remains active, with the lava flow entering the ocean.
Thermal map of the East Rift Zone on July 21, 2018. Click to enlarge. PC: USGS
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The dominant ocean entry was on the new lobe that reached the sea near Ahalanui last week. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map. Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas. The thermal map was constructed by stitching many overlapping oblique thermal images collected by a handheld thermal camera during a helicopter overflight of the flow field. The base is a copyrighted color satellite image (used with permission) provided by Digital Globe.
Kīlauea Volcano Summit
The last collapse event occurred at 9:46 a.m. Saturday, July 21. Seismicity dropped following the event and has increased to 20 to 40 earthquakes per hour. The next collapse event is expected tonight. Inward slumping of the rim and walls of Halemaʻumaʻu continues.
Sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano’s summit are very low. This gas and minor amounts of ash resuspended by wind are being transported downwind. Small bursts of ash and gas may coincide with the summit collapse events. The summit region is occasionally impacted by sulfur dioxide from the lower East Rift Zone eruption.
This aerial view, looking to the southwest, shows the most vigorous ocean entry of the Fissure 8 flow, which is located a few hundred yards northeast of the southern flow margin. PC: USGS
Sunday, July 22, 2018, 8 a.m.
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The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that eruption activity continues from Fissure 8 into the lava channel flowing to the ocean entry at Ahalanui producing a large laze plume.
As of this morning’s overflight report, the southern margin of the flow is approximately .25 miles from Isaac Hale/Pohoiki Boat Ramp. Earthquakes continue at the Kilauea summit.
On roadway updates for the Volcano area, State Highways reports that a speed limit of 25 miles per hour is in effect on Highway 11 between the 28 and 30 Mile Markers due to cracks in the road. Motorists are advised to stay on the pavement and be on the alert for changing roadway conditions.
The following policies remain in effect:
Do not access the active flow field due to extreme hazard. Be aware that channel overflows and breakouts are possible on the active flow field.
The ocean entry continues to produce a “laze” plume. Take precautions and stay out of the plume to avoid exposure to hydrochloric acid and glass particles which can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs.
Residents are reminded to check utility connections of gas, water and electricity after earthquakes.
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