Kīlauea Awakens as New Eruption Commences Wednesday

Kīlauea volcano has stirred awake yet again.

The volcano is erupting as of Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, at approximately 3:20 pm. According to an official release, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) detected glow in Kīlauea summit webcam images indicating that an eruption has commenced within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Kīlauea’s summit caldera, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Webcam imagery shows fissures at the base of Halemaʻumaʻu crater generating lava flows on the surface of the lava lake that was active until May 2021.

HVO is elevating Kīlauea’s volcano alert level from WATCH to WARNING and its aviation color code from ORANGE to RED, as this new eruption and associated hazards are evaluated.  The activity is confined to Halemaʻumaʻu and the hazards will be reassessed as the eruption progresses.

USGS volcano alert levels and aviation color codes are explained online.

The opening phases of eruptions are dynamic and uncertain, which means changes in activity could occur abruptly. The eruption is currently taking place entirely within the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.