June 27 Lava Flow Update – 12/26/14

For the past four days, the leading front of the June 27 lava flow has shown no movement.

Hawai’i County Civil Defense’s Friday morning overflight assessment showed that the flow continues to remain stalled about 0.6 miles from the Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road intersection and 700 yards from the back property line of the Pahoa Marketplace.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory web camera imagery and Civil Defense’s overflight show that activity is continuing to occur upslope from the flow front, including surface breakouts and activity along the margins of both the south and north lobes of the flow. At the current time, none of the lava flow activity is posing an immediate threat to the surrounding community.

Civil Defense, along with personnel from HVO, continue to keep a close watch on the activity, both on the ground and through overflights. Residents and businesses in the area will continue to remain informed should any changes occur.

Light to moderate smoke conditions were reported by Civil Defense Friday morning as the wind is blowing in an east-southeast direction through the Pahoa and lower Puna areas. As usual, the possibility of smoke conditions increasing can occur and residents who are sensitive or who have respiratory issues are advised to take precautions and stay inside.

At Kilauea’s summit, tilt has been flat since Thursday morning, however, HVO reports that its web cameras caught almost two hours of vigorous spattering in the summit lava lake early Friday morning, between 3:16 a.m. and 5:06 a.m. Usual fluctuations that are associated with changes in spattering occurred for the rest of the morning, according to HVO officials.

For nearly a week, Railroad Avenue has been opened as an alternate access road. On Dec. 20, the road was opened so that motorists could familiarize themselves with the road and traffic flow.  Individuals driving in the area are advised to stay on the designated route and comply with posted speed limit.

There is currently no anticipated closure of Highway 130, as it currently remains open.