Volcano Updates for social media from the U.S.G.S. Volcano Hazards Program https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcano-updates U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program Fri, 19 Jun 2026 19:22:38 +0000 Jun 17, 2026 12:50 - HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT On Wednesday, June 17, 2:14 a.m. HST, a magnitude-4.5 earthquake occurred 11 mi (17 km) southeast of Pāhala on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 21 mi (33 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. This earthquake is part of the seismic swarm under the Pāhala area, which has been going on since 2019. Earthquakes in this region have been observed at least as far back as the 1960s. See ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-17T12:30:46+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-17T12:30:46+00:00 19.7220 -155.0707 Jun 15, 2026 04:15 - Activity Summary: Episode 49 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea ended abruptly at 5:05 p.m. HST on June 14, 2026, after 7.5 hours of continuous lava fountaining from the north vent. The eruption is currently paused.Tephra fall was restricted to the closed are of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the southwest of the active Halemaʻumaʻu vents. No significant tephra or ash fall was reported from open overlooks in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park or in the surrounding communities at this time. Episode 49 Chronology:Lava fountaining episode ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-15T03:23:25+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-15T03:23:25+00:00 19.421 -155.287 ADVISORY YELLOW Jun 15, 2026 03:16 - Episode 49 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended abruptly at 5:05 PM HST on 14 June after 7.5 hours of continuous lava fountaining. USGS is dropping the Volcano Alert Level from WATCH to ADVISORY and the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to YELLOW. Additional details on this eruptive episode will be provided in the next official report.All eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Tephra fall from volcanic ash clouds is greatest within 3 miles (5 km) of the vents, lighter ash and Pele's Hair may stay ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-15T02:27:36+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-15T02:27:36+00:00 19.421 -155.287 ADVISORY YELLOW Jun 15, 2026 02:15 - Activity Summary: Episode 49 is continuing with lava fountains about 330 feet (100 m) high feeding a volcanic plume above the summit of Kīlauea volcano. The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement at 2:55 p.m. HST indicating winds near the summit of Kīlauea are light and variable, which may possibly lead to trace amounts of fine ash and Peleʻs hair falling on areas surrounding the summit. Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense also issued a message alerting residents to possible ash fall with a reminder to close windows and disconnect water catchment systems ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-15T01:39:36+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-15T01:39:36+00:00 19.421 -155.287 WATCH ORANGE Jun 14, 2026 21:04 - Episode 49 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 09:36 HST on 14 June and continues as of this notice. The National Weather Service reports that the plume from this eruption is reaching 18000 feet above sea level. Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that winds are blowing from the NE direction, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the SW direction from Halemaʻumaʻu. All eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-14T20:16:45+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-14T20:16:45+00:00 19.421 -155.287 WATCH ORANGE Jun 14, 2026 19:41 - Episode 49 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at TIME a.m. HST on June 14. Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that winds are blowing from the north northeast direction, which suggests that lower level volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the southwest direction from Halemaʻumaʻu. Higher level winds are light and variable according to NWS. Ash dispersion models for episode 49 fountain-related ash clouds currently suggest most tephra fall will be to the southwest of the vents, though ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-14T18:44:52+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-14T18:44:52+00:00 19.421 -155.287 WATCH ORANGE Jun 14, 2026 14:47 - Precursory low-level activity for episode 49 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea began around 4:10 a.m. HST on Sunday June 14 with low dome fountains 10-15 feet (3-5m) high feeding a short flow from the north vent. The flow stagnated and lava drained back into the vent at 4:30 a.m. HST. No volcanic cloud or tephra was produced by this event nor is it expected during precursory activity. Accordingly, HVO is raising the Alert Level for Kīlauea from ADVISORY to WATCH and the Aviation Color Code from YELLOW to ORANGE. Alert level and aviation ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-14T14:34:51+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-14T14:34:51+00:00 19.421 -155.287 WATCH ORANGE Jun 11, 2026 20:01 - Data feeds from seismic and acoustic sensors on the island of Saipan were restored in late May. These data streams had been unavailable due to infrastructure damage on Saipan following typhoon Sinaku in mid April. The USGS monitors these sensors as well as satellite images, distant hydroacoustic sensors and regional seismic sensors to detect significant volcanic activity in the CNMI. This level of monitoring can detect volcanic activity but cannot provide advance warning of eruptions.Due to a lack of geophysical monitoring on any of the volcanic islands, the following ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-NMI-2026-06-10T18:40:26+00:00 DOI-USGS-NMI-2026-06-10T18:41:32+00:00 61.1885 -149.8024 Jun 10, 2026 09:14 - HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT On Tuesday, June 9, 10:37 p.m. HST, a magnitude-4.7 earthquake occurred 14 mi (23 km) east of Pāpa‘ikou on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 24 mi (39 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest a source due to bending of the Pacific plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain, a common source for earthquakes in this area. These earthquakes are generated below the volcanoes and ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-10T08:51:16+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-10T08:51:16+00:00 19.7220 -155.0707 Jun 3, 2026 04:37 - On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 5:58 p.m. HST, a magnitude-4.6 earthquake occurred 4 miles (6 km) west-northwest of Kahaluu-Keauhou on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 21 miles (34 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on Hualālai, Mauna Loa, or Kīlauea volcanoes. The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest a source due to bending of the Pacific plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain, a common source for earthquakes in this area. These earthquakes are generated below the volcanoes and the ocean crust in the ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-03T04:31:46+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-03T04:31:46+00:00 19.7220 -155.0707 Jun 2, 2026 01:11 - Activity Summary: Episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea ended abruptly at 1:37 p.m. HST on June 1, 2026, after 9 hours of continuous lava fountaining from the north vent. The eruption is currently paused.The Halemaʻumaʻu eruption now has the most fountaining episodes ever recorded for an episodic fountaining eruption, edging out the Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption which had 47 fountain episodes. Other eruptions have had additional episodes related to changes in vent activity and location, this only applies to episodic fountains.Most tephra ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-02T00:33:02+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-02T00:33:02+00:00 19.421 -155.287 ADVISORY YELLOW Jun 1, 2026 23:47 - Lava fountaining for episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea ended at 1:37 p.m. HST on June 1 after 9 hours of continuous lava fountain from the north vent. Due to reduced ground and aviation hazards, the USGS is dropping the Volcano Alert Level from WATCH to ADVISORY and the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to YELLOW. Additional details on this eruptive episode will be provided in the next official report. Alert level and aviation color code definitions: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/alert-level-system. Another VAN will be published ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-01T17:22:33+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-01T17:22:33+00:00 19.421 -155.287 ADVISORY YELLOW Jun 1, 2026 17:13 - Activity Summary: Lava fountaining episode 48 in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began at 4:40 a.m. HST on June 1, 2026, after more than 90 overflow events from the south vent that started at 5:41 p.m. HST on May 30. Fountaining is focused at the north vent, and has reached more than 650 ft high (200 m). Seismic and deformation signals indcate that the fountain has reached its peak height and effusion rate for episode 48 already, although fountaining will likely continue for many more hours.Webcams and radar indicate that the plume has reached 24,000 ft above sea ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-01T16:10:56+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-01T16:10:56+00:00 19.421 -155.287 WATCH ORANGE Jun 1, 2026 15:44 - Lava fountaining for episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea started at 4:40 a.m. HST on June 1 and continues as of this notice. Activity is focused at the north vent with the fountain reaching over 500 to 650 feet above the vent.The plume from this eruption is currently reaching 24,000 feet above sea level. Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that winds are blowing from the northeast direction, and could potentially disperse tephra to the southwest. The National Weather Service indicates winds are from the south at ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-01T14:54:51+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-01T14:54:51+00:00 19.421 -155.287 WATCH ORANGE Jun 1, 2026 14:47 - Lava fountaining for episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea began at 4:40 a.m. HST on June 1 with activity focused at the north vent.Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that winds are blowing very lightly from the northeast direction. The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement indicating a potential for volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material to be carried by winds from the vents within Halemaʻumaʻu to the southwest at lower levels and to the east at higher levels in the atmosphere. WWA ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-31T03:58:43+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-31T03:58:43+00:00 19.421 -155.287 WATCH ORANGE May 31, 2026 03:49 - Precursory low-level activity for episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea began around 5:41 p.m. HST on May 30 with lava overflows from the south vent. Accordingly, HVO is raising the Alert Level for Kīlauea from ADVISORY to WATCH and the Aviation Color Code from YELLOW to ORANGE. Alert level and aviation color code definitions: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/alert-level-system. This low-level precursory activity can continue for hours to days before the lava fountaining episode beings. The forecast for episode 48 of lava ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-29T06:38:52+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-29T06:38:52+00:00 19.421 -155.287 WATCH ORANGE May 23, 2026 08:42 - HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT On Friday, May 22, 9:46 p.m. HST, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake occurred 7 mi (12 km) south of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 14 mi (22 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest that it was caused by stress due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain; the earthquake was not directly related to volcanic processes. Strong to ... https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-23T07:57:02+00:00 DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-23T07:57:02+00:00 19.7220 -155.0707