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USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2025-06-05T07:31:47+00:00
Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Issued: Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 10:51 PM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2025/H258
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii
Volcanic Activity Summary:
Episode 24 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 8:55 PM HST on June 4 and is currently fountaining from the north vent.
Episode 24 was preceded by sporadic spatter, gas pistoning, and hydrogen flames that began on the morning of June 3. At approximately 8:55 PM HST, episode 24 began with low dome fountaining accompanied by lava flows onto the crater floor. Small sustained lava fountains, less than about 100 feet (30 meters) high, began erupting from the north vent around 9:15 PM. Activity increased again around 10:10 PM, when fountain heights increased to 325 feet (100 meters) and by 10:40 reached over 980 feet (300 meters). Additionally, the fountain generated a plume that reached 16,500 feet (5,000 meters) above ground level by 10:50 PM and is increasing.
At a tiltmeter near Uēkahuna (UWD), inflationary tilt reached just over 14 microradians since the end of the last episode; slightly more than the amount of deflationary tilt in episode 23. Seismic tremor began increasing and tilt at UWD switched from inflation to deflation at about 9:00 PM HST, close in time to the beginning of low fountaining.
Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since December 23, 2024, have continued for around a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting generally at least several days.
- Timeline of eruptive episodes since December 23, 2024: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/eruption-information
- Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. A VAN/VONA will be issued when sustained lava fountaining ceases and the eruption is paused, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update.
Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code remain at WATCH/ORANGE. All current and recent activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Recent Observations:
[Volcanic cloud height] 16,500 feet a.g.l. (5,000 meters) and growing
[Other volcanic cloud information] Sulfur dioxide emission rate is typically 50,000 tons/day during eruptive episode
[Ballistics] N/A
[Lava flow/dome] N/A
[Lava flow] Confined to Halemaʻumaʻu (within summit caldera)
Hazard Analysis:
[General hazards] Pele's hair, tephra, and volcanic gas may impact downwind areas
[Lava flow/dome] N/A
[Pyroclastic flow] N/A
[Mud flow] N/A
[Volcanic gas] during sustained lava fountaining episode
[Lava flow] Confined to Halemaʻumaʻu
Remarks:
Hazard Analysis:
This episodic eruption is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. High levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2)—are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind. As SO2 is continuously released from the summit during an eruption, it will react in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) downwind of Kīlauea. SO2 and vog may cause respiratory and other problems at high concentrations. Further information on vog can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org/
Additional hazards include Pele's hair and other volcanic fragments from lava fountains. Pele's hair is strands of volcanic glass often produced by lava fountaining activity. Volcanic fragments can fall on the ground within a few hundred yards (meters) of the eruptive vent(s), or downwind of the vent(s). Strong winds may waft light particles, including Pele's hair, to greater distances downwind. Once they are on the ground, Pele's hair can sometimes cluster and tangle together, giving it the appearance of a tumbleweed. The extent of Pele's hair deposition is dependent on lava fountaining activity and current wind conditions. Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to Pele's hair and other volcanic fragments, which can cause skin and eye irritation. More information about how Pele's hair, its hazards, and what to do is available here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-recent-lava-fountains-highlight-peles-hair-hazards. A recently updated Frequently Asked Questions document that includes information about potential health effects of Pele's hair is available here: https://vog.ivhhn.org/sites/default/files/PelesHair_FAQs.pdf
Hawaiian lava flows generally advance slowly downslope, and during this eruption flows have been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera.
Other significant hazards also remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. 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.
For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, please see: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards.
Contacts:
Next Notice:
A VAN/VONA will be issued when sustained lava fountaining ceases and the eruption is paused, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update. Regularly scheduled daily updates for Kīlauea are posted on the HVO website at https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates
More Information:
- Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
- Kīlauea activity summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8862
- Kīlauea webcam images: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/webcams
- Kīlauea photos/video: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/photo-and-video-chronology
- Kīlauea lava-flow maps: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/maps
- Kīlauea FAQs: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/faqs
- Kīlauea hazards discussion: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards
Subscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/
Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards
Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo
Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes
| (1) VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA) | |
| (2) Issued: | (20250605/0851Z) |
| (3) Volcano: | Kilauea (VNUM #332010) |
| (4) Current Color Code: | ORANGE |
| (5) Previous Color Code: | ORANGE |
| (6) Source: | Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
| (7) Notice Number: | 2025/H258 |
| (8) Volcano Location: | N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min |
| (9) Area: | Hawaii |
| (10) Summit Elevation: | 4091 ft (1247 m) |
| (11) Volcanic Activity Summary: |
Episode 24 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 8:55 PM HST on June 4 and is currently fountaining from the north vent. Episode 24 was preceded by sporadic spatter, gas pistoning, and hydrogen flames that began on the morning of June 3. At approximately 8:55 PM HST, episode 24 began with low dome fountaining accompanied by lava flows onto the crater floor. Small sustained lava fountains, less than about 100 feet (30 meters) high, began erupting from the north vent around 9:15 PM. Activity increased again around 10:10 PM, when fountain heights increased to 325 feet (100 meters) and by 10:40 reached over 980 feet (300 meters). Additionally, the fountain generated a plume that reached 16,500 feet (5,000 meters) above ground level by 10:50 PM and is increasing. At a tiltmeter near Uēkahuna (UWD), inflationary tilt reached just over 14 microradians since the end of the last episode; slightly more than the amount of deflationary tilt in episode 23. Seismic tremor began increasing and tilt at UWD switched from inflation to deflation at about 9:00 PM HST, close in time to the beginning of low fountaining. Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since December 23, 2024, have continued for around a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting generally at least several days.
No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. A VAN/VONA will be issued when sustained lava fountaining ceases and the eruption is paused, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update. Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code remain at WATCH/ORANGE. All current and recent activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. |
| (12) Volcanic cloud height: | 16,500 feet a.g.l. (5,000 meters) and growing |
| (13) Other volcanic cloud information: | Sulfur dioxide emission rate is typically 50,000 tons/day during eruptive episode |
| (14) Remarks: | Hazard Analysis: This episodic eruption is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. High levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2)—are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind. As SO2 is continuously released from the summit during an eruption, it will react in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) downwind of Kīlauea. SO2 and vog may cause respiratory and other problems at high concentrations. Further information on vog can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org/ Additional hazards include Pele's hair and other volcanic fragments from lava fountains. Pele's hair is strands of volcanic glass often produced by lava fountaining activity. Volcanic fragments can fall on the ground within a few hundred yards (meters) of the eruptive vent(s), or downwind of the vent(s). Strong winds may waft light particles, including Pele's hair, to greater distances downwind. Once they are on the ground, Pele's hair can sometimes cluster and tangle together, giving it the appearance of a tumbleweed. The extent of Pele's hair deposition is dependent on lava fountaining activity and current wind conditions. Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to Pele's hair and other volcanic fragments, which can cause skin and eye irritation. More information about how Pele's hair, its hazards, and what to do is available here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-recent-lava-fountains-highlight-peles-hair-hazards. A recently updated Frequently Asked Questions document that includes information about potential health effects of Pele's hair is available here: https://vog.ivhhn.org/sites/default/files/PelesHair_FAQs.pdf Hawaiian lava flows generally advance slowly downslope, and during this eruption flows have been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera. Other significant hazards also remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. 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. For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, please see: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards. |
| (15) Contacts: | |
| (16) Next Notice: | A VAN/VONA will be issued when sustained lava fountaining ceases and the eruption is paused, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update. Regularly scheduled daily updates for Kīlauea are posted on the HVO website at https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates More Information:
|