USGS Volcanoes: Notices released in the last day.

Minor seismicity and small rockfalls were detected over the past day. Steaming was observed in satellite imagery. Clouds obscured views of the active lava dome in web camera imagery.

The current eruption began in July 2021 and, since then, lava flows have filled most of the summit crater and advanced into valleys below. There have been no explosions at Great Sitkin Volcano since an event in May 2021. The volcano is monitored using local seismic and infrasound sensors, satellite data, webcams, and regional infrasound and lightning networks.

Low-level unrest continues with minor earthquake activity. Weakly elevated surface temperatures from the fumarole field were observed in satellite imagery.

There is no real-time geophysical monitoring network at Mount Kupreanof. The closest functioning seismometers are approximately 17 miles (27 km) to the east of the volcano as part of the Mount Veniaminof network. Mount Kupreanof is also monitored by satellite data, remote infrasound and lightning networks, and visual observations from pilots and mariners passing by the volcano. 

Minor seismic activity and infrasound signals were detected at the volcano. The typical degassing plume from the summit crater was observed in partly cloudy satellite views. Clouds obscured web camera views. 

Local seismic and infrasound sensors, web cameras, and a geodetic network are used to monitor Shishaldin Volcano. In addition to the local monitoring network, AVO uses nearby geophysical networks, regional infrasound and lightning data, and satellite images to detect eruptions. 

Overview:

The summit eruption of Kīlauea in Halemaʻumaʻu remains paused. Summit inflation, strong vent glow, flaming, periodic spattering, and degassing continues, indicating that another episode is likely. Forecast models indicate that the onset of fountaining episode 50 is likely to begin between today June 25 and Saturday June 27 with Friday June 26 most likely. 

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

NOTE: Significant changes in activity between Daily Updates are posted here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages

Summit Observations:

Continuous strong glow was visible on webcams from both vents in Halemaʻumaʻu overnight. The south vent continued to produce large flames and intermittent sprays of fine spatter caused by gas jetting. The first spatter burst from the south vent was observed at 7:22 p.m. HST last night, which is notable since precursory spatter bursts have typically initiated from the north vent during this eruption. North vent spatter bursts began to occur early this morning. Cyclic strong gas pistoning events with jetting, intermittent spatter, and flames associated with spikes in tremor started around 4:00 a.m. this morning from the south vent, with less pronounced cycles earlier. Magma is close to the surface. HVO scientists observed magma roiling and spattering within the north vent during a helicopter overflight yesterday morning; views of the south vent were blocked by gas emissions.

Pulses of seismic tremor continued (every 10-40 minutes) for most of the past day. However, around 4:00 a.m., tremor became cyclic with closely spaced tremor drops followed by short tremor spikes every 10 minutes that were associated with flaming and occasional spatter from the south vent. Three small earthquakes (less than M2), two shallow and one deep, were located beneath Kīlauea volcano's summit in the past 24 hours.

Kīlauea summit deflation totaled 15.5 microradians during episode 49. Once the episode ended, inflation resumed and has since recovered 14.9 microradians of tilt at the summit tiltmeter at Uēkahuna (UWD). 

With the eruption now paused, the sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate from the summit is likely now varying within a typical range of 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes per day. 

Rift Zone Observations:

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation remain low in the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone. SO₂ emissions from the East Rift Zone remain below the detection limit.
 

Analysis:

The abrupt switch from deflation to inflation at the end of episode 49 along with continued tremor and glow from the vents indicates that episode 50 fountaining is likely. Magma remains close to the surface and spattering began last night. Both inflation and seismic based forecast models suggest another fountaining episode is likely between today, June 25, and Saturday, June 27, with Friday, June 26, most likely.

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since December 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.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and is in contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency about eruptive hazards.

Please see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm

Summary of episode 49:

A detailed account of episode 49 is given in the HVO Status Report Issued June 14: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-15T03:23:25+00:00

• Episode 49 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at the summit of Kīlauea at 9:36 a.m. HST after approximately 5 hours of precursory activity. The episode ended abruptly at 5:05 p.m. HST on June 14, 2026, after 7.5 hours of continuous lava fountaining from the north vent. Lava fountains reached a maximum height of almost 700 ft (210 m) and lava flows covered 40-50% of the crater floor. The eruption is currently paused.
• Most tephra fell within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. There were no reports of tephra fall at public viewing locations, including the Uēkahuna bluff, Keanakākoʻi overlook, and Volcano House. Similarly, there was no ash detected by field crews in nearby communities.

Resources:

NOTE: HVO’s monitoring network is mostly recovered from recent power- and storm-related outages. Several summit stations, including the SDH tiltmeter, will remain offline until we are able to re-establish access across the deep tephra field southwest of the caldera.

The following links provide more information about the current eruption that began on December 23, 2024:

• Eruption resources, including the most recent map and a timeline of eruption episodes since December 23, 2024: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/eruption-information
• Short messages tracking the evolution of the lava fountains and eruptive activity can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages
• Three Kīlauea summit livestream cameras that show eruptive lava fountains are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
• Summit eruption webcams: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit-webcams
• Volcano Watch article on gas pistons: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-so-what-earth-or-least-kilauea-a-gas-piston

Hazards:

This episodic eruption is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

• Volcanic Gas: high levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—are continually released during an eruption. Emissions can remain locally hazardous in the areas immediately downwind of the vents, even when the vents are not actively erupting. SO₂ reacts in the atmosphere to create vog (volcanic air pollution) downwind. SO₂ and vog may cause respiratory and other problems at high concentrations. Further information on vog can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org/
• Tephra: small glassy volcanic fragments—volcanic ash, pumice, scoria, Pele’s hair and reticulite—are created by the lava fountains. A combination of fountaining dynamics and wind conditions determines where tephra fall may occur for any given eruption episode. Larger particles fall near the vents while light particles may be wafted greater distances. These particles may be remobilized during windy conditions following recent eruptive episodes. Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to these fragments, which can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. More information and guidance on tephra fall hazards is available at https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/resource-and-guidance-for-volcanic-tephra-fall/
• Lava flows: lava on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera, remains hot and may slowly move in the days immediately following an eruptive episode.

Other significant hazards exist around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes. Close to the eruptive vents, the tephra material on the crater rim is prone to cracking, slumping, and small landslides that sometimes expose hot and molten material within. This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of Kīlauea's caldera rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since late 2007.

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 8:34 a.m. HST, a magnitude-3.1 earthquake occurred 8 miles (12 km) south of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 13 miles (21 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on Hualālai, Mauna Loa, or Kīlauea volcanoes. 

The earthquake today is likely an aftershock of the magnitude-6 earthquake that occurred on May 22. Like the magnitude-6 earthquake that occurred on May 22, this event is likely related to stress from the weight of the island on the underlying rigid mantle and was not directly related to volcanic processes or magma movement.  Light shaking was reported during this event, no damage is expected.  

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes. 

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION 

• Magnitude: 3.1 
• Date and Time: June 25, 2026, at 8:34 a.m. HST 
• Location: 8 miles (12 km) south of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo 
• Depth: 13 miles (21 km) below sea level
• Additional aftershocks are possible in the coming days to weeks 

EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY AND AFFECTED AREA 

• Potential Damage: No damage to buildings or infrastructure expected based on earthquake intensity 
• Maximum Intensity, Modified Mercalli Scale https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/modified-mercalli-intensity-scale) 
  • Community-reported: IV - light shaking 
  • Instrument-derived: IV- light shaking 
• Felt Reports: More than 70 within the first hour (https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes//dyfi/intensity) 
• Felt Area: West side of the Island of Hawaiʻi with one felt report from Maui 
• Visit NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Center website for updated information: https://www.tsunami.gov/ 

EARTHQUAKE MAPS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

• USGS National Earthquake Information Center Maps and Reports for this Event: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv74990962 
• USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes 

NORTHERN MARIANAS VOLCANOES
No definitive signs of unrest were detected at any Northern Mariana Island volcanoes during the past week.

Monitoring of Northern Mariana Islands Volcanoes

Northern Mariana Island volcanoes are monitored using seismo-acoustic sensors on Saipan, and by examining satellite imagery. We also use distant seismic stations in Guam and Chichijima, Japan, and hydroacoustic data from Wake Island, when available.

This level of monitoring can detect significant volcanic activity in the CNMI but cannot provide advanced warning of eruptions.

Due to a lack of geophysical monitoring on any of the volcanic islands, the following volcanoes have alert levels of UNASSIGNED: Anatahan, Sarigan, Farallon de Pajaros, Supply Reef, Maug, Asuncion, Agrigan, Pagan, Almagan, and Guguan.