Episode 55 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption predicted to begin today
There have been 69 overflows since Kīlauea began erupting on-and-off Monday, Sept. 7.
A total of 69 overflows have occurred since the Kīlauea volcano began intermittently erupting lava flows from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu since Monday, Sept. 7.
This style of activity has been typical in the hours to days before a summit lava fountaining episode. After several days of no change, slow summit reinflation returned last night and is currently slightly above the Episode 54 starting level.
The forecast window for the start of Episode 55 fountaining is likely today, Sept. 11, but could be pushed to tomorrow, Sept. 12, if summit inflation rates change.
No significant activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
Summit observations
Weak spattering from the north vent was first reported at 6:54 p.m. on Sept. 6, with the first sluggish precursory overflow from the north vent starting at around 12:45 p.m. on Sept. 7.
Overflows from the north vent have continued intermittently since then, with a total of 69 so far lasting from a few minutes to about two hours and separated by interludes of about 15 minutes to eight hours. Overflows between Sept. 7 and 9 became progressively more vigorous and were fed by a dome fountain that reached 15 to 30 feet tall.
Two main lava flows have formed during these overflows with one making it about a half mile (1 kilometer) to the southwest of the north vent, and the other making it less than half a mile (1 kilometer) to the northeast of the north vent.
On Sept. 10, overflows were generally sluggish, less frequent, shorter in duration (less than 10 minutes), not fed by a dome fountain, and did not travel as far from the north vent.
Overflows this morning, Sept. 11, have been showing more vigor and lasting longer than 10 minutes. Several of the overflows this morning were fed by dome fountains of 15 to 30 feet tall and generated lava flows that traveled farther from the north vent than yesterday.
The most recent north vent overflow began at 7:32 a.m. this morning and was ongoing when this notice was published around 8 a.m.
Webcam views at Kīlauea summit over the past day have been intermittently clear, with overnight views often obscured by weather. No overflows occurred from the south or west vents, but glow and flames were observed occasionally in all three of the eruptive vents in Halemaʻumaʻu in overnight webcam imagery.
Tremor continues across the summit with regular intervals (about five minutes) of gas piston activity. When webcam views have been obscured by weather, changes in tremor were used to time the duration of recent overflows from the north vent.
Over the past 24 hours, 21 small earthquakes were recorded beneath the summit region. Events occurred in two general locations: one mile below Halemaʻumaʻu or about two miles deep just south of Halemaʻumaʻu. While the largest earthquake was a magnitude-2.2, most have been smaller than magnitude-2.
Trade winds are pushing the degassing plume to the southwest of Kīlauea’s summit caldera this morning, and northerly winds later today could blow volcanic gases as well as fine ash and Pele’s hair to the south of Kaluapele if Episode 55 begins.
Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since Dec. 23, 2024, from two vents (north and south) in Halemaʻumaʻu. Lava fountaining episodes, which generally last for less than 12 hours, are separated by pauses of two or more weeks.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Kīlauea closely and is in contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency about eruptive hazards.
See the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information. Kīlauea activity summary is also available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
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