Update: Kīlauea eruption within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has paused

Update at 3:11 p.m. June 3: The eruption that began southwest of Kīlauea’s summit at approximately 12:30 a.m. has paused. However, activity in this region remains dynamic and could change quickly, according to a press release from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue additional notices as needed.  

Visual observations suggest that effusion of lava ceased by approximately 12:30 p.m. Lava flows were sluggish between 11–12 p.m. However, areas of incandescence and elevated volcanic gas emissions continue.

At approximately 7:45 a.m. this morning, a sulfur dioxide emission rate of approximately 15,000 tonnes per day was measured; this emission rate had decreased to 12,000 tonnes per day as of noon and has likely decreased further this afternoon. Volcanic tremor, a signal associated with fluid movement, continues to be recorded on summit seismometers though at a slightly decreased intensity.  

Earthquake activity decreased greatly in the summit region of Kīlauea with the onset of the eruption. All seismicity for the last 8 hours is concentrated near Maunaiki at the western extent of the system of cracks that opened during this eruption. Ground deformation has been characterized by slow summit deflation since 2 a.m., suggesting that magma may still be moving from summit storage to the southwest into the eruption area. 

A map of the approximate fissure locations is available here: https://www.usgs.gov/maps/june-3-2024-kilauea-southwest-rift-zone-eruption-reference-map  

A new webcam monitors the recent eruption site: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/s1cam-view-upper-southwest-rift-zone-kilauea-view-southwest

Fissure eruptions are often short-lived but can be difficult to forecast. They can display pauses of hours to days. The large crack system developed during the past day extends well past the westernmost active fissure, indicating that magma has been emplaced shallowly to the east side of Maunaiki, where the most recent earthquake swarms are occurring.

While the eruption today occurred due to the intrusion of new magma to the Southwest, it occurred in the vicinity of the dike that formed close to the surface on Jan. 31. Continued input of newer, hotter magma could destabilize the stored magma. While the current eruption may be over, it is equally likely that it might resume at or to the west of the last active fissure.   

Hazards are still present on Kīlauea and are described below. Residents and visitors should stay informed and follow County of Hawai‘i and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guidelines. See the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park News Release: https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/news/20240603-2024-eruption.htm

For more information about the meaning of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes, see https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes 

Update at 10:26 a.m. June 3: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory lowered the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from WARNING to WATCH and the Aviation Color Code from RED to ORANGE. 

Due to the remote location of this eruption, the primary hazards at this time are airborne hazards related to gas emissions and tephra being blown downwind of the eruption. There is no immediate threat to human life or critical infrastructure.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea for signs of increasing or decreasing activity. 

Update at 2:58 a.m. June 3: Kīlauea volcano is erupting.

According to a notice issued at 2:20 a.m. today by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a new eruption began at about 12:30 a.m. today, likely about a mile south of Kīlauea caldera and north of the Koa’e fault system and Hilina Pali Road, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Accordingly, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory raised the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards to warning and the Aviation Color Code to red. 

Glow is visible in webcam imagery, indicating that lava is currently erupting from fissures. The most recent eruption in this region was in December 1974, which lasted only about 6 hours. At this time, it is not possible to say how long this new eruption will last.

It’s been about 9 months since the volcano’s last eruption in September 2023.

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low. Current activity is restricted to the summit region. 

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea for signs of increasing or decreasing activity. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued.

Residents and visitors should stay informed and follow County of Hawai‘i and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guidelines.

Kīlauea summit eruptive activity over the past several years has occurred at the base of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and on the downdropped block, within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. During Kīlauea summit eruptions, the high level of volcanic gas — primarily water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide — being emitted is the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind.

Passive volcanic degassing can occur from within Halemaʻumaʻu crater even during periods of no eruptive activity. As SO2 is released from the summit, it reacts in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) that has been observed downwind of Kīlauea.

Vog creates the potential for airborne health hazards to residents and visitors, damages agricultural crops and other plants and affects livestock.

For more information about gas hazards, click here. Vog information can be found here. 

Other significant hazards also remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public.

This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of the rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since early 2008. 

For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, click here.

To view a live webcam stream of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater area, click here.

Original post from 7:02 p.m. June 2: Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island is not erupting, but unrest has heightened even more throughout Sunday, causing the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to raise the volcano’s alert level.

The Volcano Alert level for Kīlauea was raised to watch at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday as increased earthquake activity and ground deformation at the volcano’s summit, which began at about noon Sunday, indicate the likely movement of magma in the subsurface.

Rates of seismicity and deformation increased further after 5 p.m.

At this time, it is not possible to say with certainty if the increased activity will lead to an eruption — the activity could remain below ground.

However, an eruption in Kīlauea’s summit region within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is one potential outcome.

The volcano’s aviation code also was raised from yellow to orange.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea for signs of increasing activity. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued.

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low. Current activity is restricted to the summit region.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park reports the Devastation parking lot and Keanakākoʻi area are closed until further notice because of the volcanic unrest.

Residents and visitors should stay informed and follow Hawai‘i County and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guidelines.

For more information about the meaning of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes, click here.

Updates also can be found online.