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USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2025-06-27T04:06:53+00:00
Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Issued: Saturday, June 28, 2025, 8:50 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2025/H299
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii
Volcanic Activity Summary:
Precursory low-level activity for episode 27 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 7:27 a.m. HST on June 28, currently consisting of intermittent lava overflows from the north vent. Sustained lava fountaining is likely to begin on June 29 or 30 (tomorrow or Monday) based on the current rate of summmit inflation, but could begin sooner if precursory activity escalates. According to the National Weather Service, winds are forecast to blow from the north-northeast to east directions within that timeframe.
In recent episodes of the ongoing eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu, low-level precursory activity has lasted from a few hours to a few days. This activity can include spatter from the north and/or south vents, small dome fountains, and lava overflowing from one or both vents.
At the start of previous episodes, precursory activity has rapidly escalated into sustained high fountaining over minutes to tens of minutes. During previous episodes, fountains reached heights of more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) and the eruptive plume reached heights of up to 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above ground level soon after sustained fountaining began.
The tiltmeter at Uēkahuna (UWD) has recorded 15.5 microradians of inflationary tilt since the end of the last episode, during which it recorded 18.5 microradians of deflationary tilt. Low level seismic tremor continues beneath Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
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 begins, marking the start of episode 27, 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] Unknown
[Other volcanic cloud information] Sulfur dioxide emission rates are typically 1,200-1,500 tonnes/day between eruptive episodes and 50,000 tonnes/day during an eruptive episode
Hazard Analysis:
[Ash cloud] Plume in past episodes reached up to 20,000 feet (6000 meters) above ground level soon after sustained fountaining began.
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_v2.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 begins, marking the start of episode 27, 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: | (20250628/1850Z) |
| (3) Volcano: | Kilauea (VNUM #332010) |
| (4) Current Color Code: | ORANGE |
| (5) Previous Color Code: | ORANGE |
| (6) Source: | Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
| (7) Notice Number: | 2025/H299 |
| (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: |
Precursory low-level activity for episode 27 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 7:27 a.m. HST on June 28, currently consisting of intermittent lava overflows from the north vent. Sustained lava fountaining is likely to begin on June 29 or 30 (tomorrow or Monday) based on the current rate of summmit inflation, but could begin sooner if precursory activity escalates. According to the National Weather Service, winds are forecast to blow from the north-northeast to east directions within that timeframe. In recent episodes of the ongoing eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu, low-level precursory activity has lasted from a few hours to a few days. This activity can include spatter from the north and/or south vents, small dome fountains, and lava overflowing from one or both vents. At the start of previous episodes, precursory activity has rapidly escalated into sustained high fountaining over minutes to tens of minutes. During previous episodes, fountains reached heights of more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) and the eruptive plume reached heights of up to 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above ground level soon after sustained fountaining began. The tiltmeter at Uēkahuna (UWD) has recorded 15.5 microradians of inflationary tilt since the end of the last episode, during which it recorded 18.5 microradians of deflationary tilt. Low level seismic tremor continues beneath Halemaʻumaʻu crater. 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 begins, marking the start of episode 27, 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: | Unknown |
| (13) Other volcanic cloud information: | Sulfur dioxide emission rates are typically 1,200-1,500 tonnes/day between eruptive episodes and 50,000 tonnes/day during an 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_v2.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 begins, marking the start of episode 27, 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:
|