USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-09-20T18:04:58+00:00

Activity Summary: The eruption near Nāpau Crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park appears to be waning as of 6 a.m. HST this morning, September 20. Eruptive tremor in the area has decreased over the past hours and S2cam imagery shows that lava falls into Nāpau Crater have likely crusted over. More details will be available in the Kīlauea daily update later this morning. Renewed episodes of unrest or eruption in this region are possible and could occur with little warning. The Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code remains at WATCH/ORANGE. All current and recent activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. No changes have been detected in the lower East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

HVO is continuing to closely monitor the middle East Rift Zone and is in contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency. Please see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm.    

Current eruptive activity began with a small eruption that occurred on September 15, 2024, on a remote section of the middle East Rift Zone in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, just west of Nāpau Crater as described here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/science/eruption-kilauea-middle-east-rift-zone  

For more information about the meaning of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes, see https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes.