Episode 40 of Kīlauea eruption has begun

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include ash fall information from Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency, and the latest information about Episode 40 from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Episode 40 fountaining at Kīlauea began at 8:22 a.m.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the north vent fountains are now reaching 650 feet high. Sustained lava fountains are not yet erupting from the south vent, according to an update from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

However, intermittent lava spattering and small dome fountains continue in the south vent.

Fountains are feeding a large flow on the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

The gas plume is rising vertically, but part of it is moving due west at about 5,000 feet above ground level.

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation remain very low in the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone. SO₂ emissions from the East Rift Zone remain below the detection limit.

Kīlauea has been eruption on and off since Dec. 23, 2024. Most lava fountaining episodes since that time have continued for a day or less.

Elevated gas levels and tephra (fine glass particles that may irritate the skin and eyes) are present in the area and downwind of the eruption, according to Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency.

Due to light winds, communities closest to the eruption may be affected.

Officials advise the public to avoid the area for those who have sensitivities or other respiratory conditions.

On roadways, beware of tephra, which may reduce visibility, and enhanced traffic congestion. 

Current volcano alert level is at WATCH, and the aviation color code was ORANGE.

Episode 39 lava fountaining from the south vent stopped at approximately 2:13 a.m. on Dec. 24 after nearly six hours of sustained fountaining. The two vents within the north cone both stopped slightly earlier at 2 a.m.

Sustained fountaining began at 8:20 p.m. from the north and south vents after just under two hours of precursory overflows. Fountains rapidly grew to several hundred feet high and by 9:30 p.m. had reached maximum estimated heights of 1,400 feet for the south fountain and 900 feet for the north fountain. 

To watch the Kīlauea episode 40 lava fountaining in real time, check out HVO’s three streaming cameras:

V1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0tfYDxrUA
V2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiyttmA7YkA
V3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXKuUyKt8mc