USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-03-10T18:18:25+00:00

Activity Summary:

Precursory eruption of lava began from the north vent at 8:17 a.m. HST this morning.  The summit continues to slowly inflate. The modeled forecast window for the onset of episode 43 lava fountaining is between today, March 10, and Saturday March 14.

NOTE: The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement forecasting strong winds from the south accompanied by periods of heavy rain possibly beginning later this week for the Island of Hawai'i.  If episode 43 fountaining overlaps with this storm it could bring tephra fall to the area north and east of the vents including Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Highway 11, and communities to the north and east of the national park. Current wind conditions are light and variable at Kīlaueaʻs summit which may also lead to tephra fall into surrounding communities. 

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

A recap of episode 42 can be found in this Status Report.

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

Summit Observations:

Vigorous precursory eruptions began from the north vent at 8:17 a.m. HST this morning and continue at this time.  A 20-30 foot (5-10 meter) high dome fountain is feeding a narrow flow ribbon that extends about a third of the way across the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater.  This eruptive activity followed a night of continuous strong glow from both the north and south vents overnight, as well as intermittent periods of spatter and flaming. This morning, the south vent remains quiet and emitting a steady gas plume. Continuous low level seismic tremor was observed as well as intermittent periods of tremor bursts over the last 24 hours. Since 9am, the tremor signal strength continues to increase accompanied by a slight deflation of tilt. There were four small earthquakes located in the summit region in the last 24 hours; all events were M1+ and smaller. 

Continuous inflation has occurred over the last 24 hours. As of this morning, the UWD tiltmeter has recorded 30.9 microradians of inflationary tilt since the end of episode 42, with about 0.9 microradians of net inflation over the past 24 hours but has lost about 0.2 microradians since precursory eruption began.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rates from the summit have typically averaged 1000-1500 t/d during eruptive pauses. Webcams show the plume being impacted by light and variable winds this morning. If episode 43 fountaining begins under this conditions, tephra fall could spread to viewing areas north and east of the vents within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as well as to surrounding roads and communities. Current high level winds above 20,000 feet are currently modeled to be from the northwest.
 

Rift Zone Observations:

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation remain very low in the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone. SO₂ emissions from the East Rift Zone remain below the detection limit.

Analysis:

The initial rapid rebound of tilt and glow from both vents indicate that another fountaining episode is likely. The overall inflationary trend has been interrupted by periods of no inflation or slight deflation recorded across all four summit tiltmeters that may impact the onset of episode 43 fountaining. These changes in tilt rate are not predictable and create uncertainty in modeling the onset of episode 43 fountaining. The onset of precursory eruptions suggest episode 43 fountains may begin in the next few days. Models indicate the forecast window for the start of episode 43 fountaining remains between today, March 10, and March 14. The forecast window may change if inflation is interrupted by additional periods of deflation.

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since December 23, 2024, primarily from two vents (north and south) in Halema‘uma‘u. Eruptive episodes, which generally last for less than 12 hours, are separated by pauses that can be as long as over two 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

Recap of episode 41:

A recap of episode 42 can be found in this Status Report.

Resources:

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 fountains and eruptive activity can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages 
• Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos that show eruptive lava fountains are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
• Note: The V3 camera is experiencing data issues and we have ordered a new camera to replace it following episode 42.
• 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 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.