June 27 Lava Flow Update – 10/26/14

Hawai’i County Civil Defense announced Sunday morning that the June 27 lava flow front has advanced approximately 250 yards since yesterday and continues to flow at a rate of about 10 yards per hour in the northeast direction.

Smoke conditions in the area were reported as light to moderate with moderate trade winds from the northeast pushing smoke in a south-southwest direction.

There is the possibility that smoke conditions can increase in some areas. Residents down wind that may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take necessary precautions and remain indoors.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists have reported that, as of yesterday, the flow front has continued its downslope decent.

According to HVO, the flow front has advanced 150 yards from 5 p.m. Saturday to about 9 a.m. Sunday morning.

Additionally, the flow was about 45 yards wide at 5 p.m. Saturday and has since spread out to about 150 yards.

The flow had been deflected away from the steepest-decent line it had been following and toward the cemetery by an old man-made cane-field berm just above Apa’a St. The flow is now advancing downslope between two intersecting steepest-decent paths and will likely return to the original steepest-decent path.

As of 9 a.m. this morning, flow front activity was about 0.5 miles in straight-line distance from Pahoa Village Road and about 0.9 miles from Highway 130, according to information released by HVO.

The once narrow lobe that overtook the original flow front on Tuesday has been advancing consistently over the past two days. It originally crossed its first paved road, Apa’a St., on Saturday morning at 3:50 a.m.

Current lava flow location, direction and advancement has placed residents in the flow path on evacuation notice.

The evacuation notice means residents who are in areas where the flow path is expected to go should prepare for possible evacuation in the next three to five days.

On Saturday afternoon, Civil Defense, Hawai’i Electric Light and Community Response Team personnel conducted door to door notification of residents in downslope areas of Pahoa Village to ensure residents were aware of current activities. Officials planned to expand their efforts into secondary areas.

Residents will be kept informed of the flow movement and are asked to complete all necessary preparations for a possible evacuation on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Apa’a St. and Cemetery Road will continue to remain closed. Civil Defense and Public Safety personnel will continue operating in the area around the clock to main close observation of flow activity.