USGS Volcanoes: Notices released in the last day.

Minor seismicity were detected over the past day. Elevated surface temperatures were observed in satellite views. 

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 seismicity at low-levels. Partly cloudy satellite views show nothing unusual.

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 and infrasound activity signals were detected at the volcano. Weak degassing plume from the summit crater with steam emissions observed in partly cloudy satellite and webcam 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. 

Slow eruption of lava continues within the summit crater. Typical slightly elevated surface temperatures were observed throughout the week when cloud cover was not obscuring the volcano. Clear high-resolution satellite views of the summit show minor steaming from the lava flow as well. Seismic activity remains low, with occasional small volcanic earthquakes and seismic signals from minor rockfalls observed. Web camera observations showed no evidence of activity. 

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

Earthquake activity continues near Mount Kupreanof volcano, with magnitudes under 2.5 this week. The two largest earthquakes had magnitudes of 1.92 and 2.46 and occurred on July 10. Deep low-frequency earthquakes, greater than 12 miles (20 km) below sea level, were also observed. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions were detected in satellite images on July 7 and 8. 

AVO released an Information Statement on June 22 summarizing the ongoing volcanic unrest from a magmatic intrusion beneath the volcano, which is also now detected in satellite ground deformation data (satellite interferometric radar or InSAR). More details can be found in the Information Statement on the AVO website: https://avo.alaska.edu/news/view/kupreanof-information-statement-june-22-2026.

There is no real-time geophysical monitoring network at Mount Kupreanof. The closest functioning seismometer is 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, regional infrasound and lightning networks, and visual observations from pilots and mariners passing by the volcano. 

Seismic and infrasound activity remain elevated, with numerous small earthquakes, frequent infrasound signals from small explosions within the summit crater, and volcanic tremor recorded this week. Satellite data showed elevated sulfur dioxide emissions and webcams showed steaming on most days.

Shishaldin Volcano is monitored by local seismic and infrasound sensors, web cameras, and a telemetered geodetic network. In addition to the local monitoring network, the Alaska Volcano Observatory uses nearby geophysical networks, regional infrasound and lightning data, and satellite data to monitor the volcano.

Overview:

The Kīlauea summit eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu crater is erupting small bursts of precursory spatter. Overnight webcam views showed strong glow and spatter from the north vent, and variable glow from the south vent. The summit recorded inflationary tilt over the past day but flattened around 4:00 a.m. HST this morning and then shifted to deflation in the past few hours. Current forecast models suggest that lava fountaining episode 51 is likely to start between now and July 13, but most likely today or tomorrow. However, if the current deflation is sustained, then Monday, July 13 is more likely.

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

A summary of lava fountaining episode 50 is posted below.

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

Summit Observations:

Strong glow was visible from the north vent overnight, with nearly continuous spatter starting around midnight. The north vent spattering has become less vigorous this morning following the start of slow summit deflation. The accumulation of spatter landing around the north vent rim has built up a small cone around the vent. Glow from the south vent was dim most of the night but was punctuated by periods of bright glow after 3:00 a.m. HST. The bright glow correlated with spikes in tremor and appears to mark the onset of gas piston activity in the south vent. One of these periods produced visible spatter early this morning.

Continuous, low-level seismic tremor transitioned to cyclic tremor bursts every 5-10 minutes around 3:00 a.m. HST. These spikes appear to mark drainback events associated with gas piston cycles in the south vent. Earthquake activity beneath Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) remains low. 

Kīlauea summit has recorded inflationary tilt over much of the past few days, however, starting around 4:00 a.m. HST this morning the tilt flattened followed by slight deflation over the past few hours. Several deflationary trends have interrupted the overall inflationary pattern following episode 50, and the current deflation may push back the eruption forecast window if it continues. Tilt recovery since the end of episode 50 presently stands at about 15.3 microradians on the Uēkahuna (UWD) tiltmeter, an increase of 1.2 microradians since yesterday morning. Summit deflation totaled 15.3 microradians on UWD during episode 50. 

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:

Summit reinflation continued over most of the past few days but has flattened early this morning and is now slightly deflating, which may push back the forecast window for episode 51. Vent glow has been continuous since the end of episode 50. Strong glow and nearly continuous spatter from the north vent along with variable glow from the south vent overnight, indicates that magma is very near the surface. The current forecast suggests that episode 51 will occur sometime between now and July 13, most likely today or tomorrow if the current deflationary tilt is short lived.

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 50:

A detailed account of episode 50 is given in the HVO Status Report issued on June 27: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-28T04:29:55+00:00

• Episode 50 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea ended abruptly at 5:10 p.m. HST on June 27, 2026, after 7 hours of continuous lava fountaining from the north vent. The eruption is currently paused.

• Tephra fall was restricted mostly to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the southwest of the active Halemaʻumaʻu vents. A light fall of Peleʻs hair was reported from the town of Pāhala in Kaʻū.

   

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.