UPDATE: Episode 44 of lava fountaining at Kīlauea has begun; portion of Highway 11 closed

Update at 11:26 a.m. April 9: Episode 44 of lava fountaining at Kīlauea within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park began at 11:10 a.m.

Fountaining episodes typically last less than 12 hours, but ash can remain in the air longer depending on wind and weather conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

Due to the eruption, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Highway 11 in Puna at the 25.5 Mile Marker at the intersection of Nahelenani Street and in Ka`u at the 40 Mile Marker are closed.

Varying levels of ash, Pele’s hair, and other lightweight tephra may fall downwind of the eruption. In the current weather pattern, “downwind” will be to the north and northeast of the summit, including the communities of Volcano and Mountain View.

The National Weather Service has issued an Ashfall Information Statement. Elevated gas levels, ash, and tephra – fine glass particles that may irritate the skin and eyes – are present in the area and downwind of the eruption.

Smaller particles can travel farther from the eruption site and may affect communities at greater distances.

If you live downwind of the Kilauea summit, or plan to visit the summit area, stay informed about current volcanic activity and weather conditions. Winds from the south mean that tephra could fall in areas of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, on Highway 11 nearby, and in communities near the Kilauea summit region.

For more information on the status of Kilauea Volcano, see
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates

For health and safety recommendations, visit the Hawai‘i Interagency Vog Information Dashboard at https://vog.ivhhn.org

Original post: Small spatters of lava are visible this morning on the U.S. Geological Survey’s live stream of Kīlauea within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

The volcano has been edging closer to its next eruptive episode, which is expected between now and April 15. Over the past day, the Halemaʻumaʻu south vent has overflowed at least 20 times, with slightly increased vigor starting Wednesday afternoon, according to a daily update from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

These overflows have been associated with gas piston tremor cycles in the south vent, with limited spattering and low dome fountaining. A single overflow from the north vent started around 2:25 a.m. this morning and lasted 10–20 minutes, though intermittent spattering has continued in the vent since then.

Seismic tremor is continuous with frequent small, poorly defined bursts possibly related to the rise and fall of magma within the vents.

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since Dec. 23, 2024, from two vents (north and south) in Halema‘uma‘u. Lava fountaining episodes, which generally last for less than 12 hours, are separated by pauses that can be longer than three weeks.

Episode 43 ended at 6:21 p.m. on March 10 after lava fountaining continued for just over 9 hours.

Gradual summit inflation and low-level seismic tremor have persisted through the past 24 hours. Overflows and spattering may continue until lava fountaining episode 44 begins, but periods of deflation and reduced vent activity may still occur and delay the onset of the next episode.

No significant activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement on Wednesday about the potential for tephra fall from episode 44 in downwind communities, especially if the episode occurs in the next several days, when the NWS has forecast possible southerly winds.

Significant changes in activity between Daily Updates are posted here.