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USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-05T18:52:47+00:00

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HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Issued: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 10:35 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H206
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Volcanic Activity Summary:

Episode 46 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea at 8:17 a.m. HST on May 5th, 2026, and continues as of this notice. 

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory modeling shows that this eruptive episode has reached its peak effusion rate and is unlikely to generate taller lava fountains from this point onwards. North vent lava fountains are reaching 650 feet (200 m) above ground level, and the south vent is no longer erupting. The National Weather Service and Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center report that the plume from this eruption is reaching 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above sea level. 

Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that winds are blowing from the southeast direction. Volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material were distributed to the northwest direction from Halemaʻumaʻu in the first hours of this episode, with fist-sized and sparse smaller clasts reported at Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and between mile markers 31 and 32 on Highway 11. Fallout in these areas has since decreased, but higher-level winds are southwesterly, which suggests that the plume and tephra may be transported to the northeast with time as the eruption continues and the plume develops.

The National Weather Service has issued an Ashfall Advisory for the southeast and east sides of the Island of Hawaiʻi: https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=HFO&wwa=ashfall%20advisory 

Most lava fountaining episodes since December 23, 2024, have continued for a day or less.

Remarks:

Hazard Analysis: 

Volcanic Gas: water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are continuously released during an eruption. SO2 reacts in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic air pollution) downwind, which may cause respiratory and other problems. 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: 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 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.



Contacts:

askHVO@usgs.gov



Next Notice:

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue additional notices as needed based on activity. Regularly scheduled daily updates for Kīlauea are posted on the HVO website at https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates  

More Information:



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

VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA)

WMPA01 PHVO 052035   
VONA
DTG:                    20260505/2035Z
VOLCANO:                KILAUEA 332010
PSN:                    N1925 W15517
AREA:                   HAWAII
SOURCE ELEV:            4091FT AMSL
NOTICE NR:              2026/26
CURRENT COLOUR CODE:    ORANGE
PREVIOUS COLOUR CODE:   ORANGE
SVO:                    HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
ACT STS:                ERUPTION ONGOING
ONSET:                  20260505/1817Z
DUR:                    ONGOING EPISODIC
VA CLD HGT:             20000FT AMSL
HGT SOURCE:             RADAR
MOV:                    NE
CTC:                    HVO DUTY SCIENTIST: 808-785-3144
RMK:                    LAVA FOUNTAIN EPISODE 46 CONTINUES AT KILAUEA SUMMIT. FOUNTAINS CURRENTLY REACHING
                        650 FT AGL. NWS/VAAC REPORTS PLUME CURRENTLY REACHING 20,000 FT AMSL. FALLOUT
                        REPORTED NORTHWEST, DOWNWIND OF VENTS, AND MAY OCCUR TO NORTHEAST AS PLUME DEVELOPS.
NXT NOTICE:             A NEW VONA WILL BE ISSUED IF COND CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OR IF THE COLOR CODE CHANGES
NNNN