Kīlauea summit eruption pauses again after more than 24 hours of vigorous activity

The second episode of the latest summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island is paused.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported earlier today that vigorous fountaining from vents in the southwest corner of Halemaʻmaʻu Crater within Kaluapele, the volcano’s summit caldera, rapidly died down a few minutes just before 11 a.m.

Lava then began draining back into the vent at nearly the same time summit tiltmeters started recording a change from deflation to inflation.

Seismic tremor associated with the eruption also decreased markedly.

The pattern was similar, but more abrupt, than the onset of the pause late Monday afternoon.

Phase 2 of the eruption — which started early Monday morning and is confined to Halemaʻmaʻu and the downdropped block inside the summit caldera in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park — lasted a little more than 24 hours, about twice as long as the first episode.

Prior summit eruptions have lasted days to weeks.

“There is a high probability that this eruption will resume if the summit repressurizes over the coming days,” said the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s volcano status report from earlier today.

Since the eruption reactived Tuesday, lava flows spread across the floor or Halema‘uma‘u and overflowed onto the downdropped block area to the east.

Volcano observatory geologists in the field Tuesday measured lava fountain heights of about 75 yards, and observed significant accumulations of tephra from the fountains covering the closed portion of Crater Rim Drive, producing deep drifts of cinder over the road and along the roadside.

Active lava flows this morning covered most of the area covered during the first day of the eruption, so slightly less than 650 acres, or 1 square mile.

A laser rangefinder on the west rim of Kīlauea’s caldera showed lava flows on the crater floor are roughly about 10 feet deep.

The volcano’s alert level remains at Watch and aviation color code at Orange.

Sulfur dioxide emissions remain elevated, with a vigorous gas plume lofting above the caldera this morning.

High levels of volcanic gas — primarily water vapor, carbon dioxide and SO2 — are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects.

As SO2 is continuously released from the summit during the eruption, visible haze called vog, or volcanic smog, will impact areas and communities downwind of Kīlauea. 

This is the sixth summit eruption within the caldera since 2020.

Previous summit eruptions exhibited vigorous activity in the opening days that then either ends or decreases significantly to a stable, lower level of eruptive activity.

No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue an eruption update Thursday morning unless there are significant changes overnight.

The observatory also remains in close contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense.

“If your holiday events include a visit to [Hawai‘i] Volcanoes National Park to view the eruption, be aware that there may be large crowds and extended wait times due to traffic congestion and pedestrians on roadways,” said Hawai‘i County Civil Defense in its Wednesday afternoon message. “Please drive with caution and heed the advice of park rangers during your visit.”

Reduced speed limits along Highway 11 also can be expected, along with changes to regular traffic patterns.

“Please do your part to help everyone have a safe and merry Christmas,” urged Civil Defense.

See the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information.

You can also watch the Kīlauea summit livestream on YouTube.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this article.