Update: Kīlauea alert level downgraded back to advisory as earthquake activity decreases

Update at 10:56 a.m. July 23: The volcano alert level for Kīlauea has been downgraded back to advisory from watch as localized earthquakes and ground deformation rates in the Big Island volcano’s upper East Rift Zone decreased significantly following a burst of intense activity early this morning.

There are no signs of an imminent eruption at this time.

“The pulsing nature of this activity may represent stages in intrusive activity beneath the upper East Rift Zone region,” officials reported. “Additional seismic pulses or swarms may occur with little or no warning and result in either continued intrusion of magma or eruption of lava.”

According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, tremors were on the rise twice in the past 24 hours, prompting the status report and brief alert level change.

During that timeframe, there were about 50 earthquakes detected beneath Kīlauea’s summit and about 357 earthquakes detected beneath the upper East Rift Zone, mostly at depths of up to 2.5 miles underground.

The most significant increase in earthquakes was observed beneath the upper East Rift Zone with three times the 111 events detected in the same area during the previous 24 hours.

Most events were smaller than magnitude 2, but there were 13 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or higher in the upper East Rift Zone. The largest event was a magnitude 3.4.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s field crews examined Chain of Craters Road in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park this morning and found no major cracks associated with the recent activity.

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the middle and lower East Rift Zone and lower Southwest Rift Zone remain low.

Should volcanic activity change significantly, another volcanic activity notice will be issued.

Original post from 5:26 a.m.: The Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano is not erupting, but increased earthquake activity and ground deformation centered near Pauahi Crater in the upper East Rift Zone that began at about 3:30 a.m. today indicate magma is likely moving in the subsurface.

Accordingly, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory raised the alert level for ground-based hazards from advisory to watch and the aviation color code was upped from yellow to orange.

An eruption in Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is one potential outcome; however, the situation is rapidly evolving, and at this time it is not possible to say with certainty if an eruption will happen.

The activity could remain underground.

If an eruption does occur, it also is not possible to say where such an outbreak might occur, but the area between Hiʻiaka crater and Maunaulu in the national park is potentially at risk for a new lava outbreak based on past patterns of eruptive activity in this area.

Past eruptions in this region of Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone have happened throughout the course of hours to about a month. The location of any future outbreak will determine what areas could be in the path of any new lava flows. 

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a new notice will be issued.

The observatory also is in close contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Temporary closures were implemented as a result of the elevated activity.

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.