USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-07T20:32:23+00:00

HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Previous Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Previous Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Issued: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 8:45 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H221
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Summary: Episode 47 lava fountaining is forecast to begin today or tomorrow based upon geophysical data. Because an eruption is imminent, HVO is raising the Alert Level for Kīlauea from ADVISORY to WATCH and the Aviation Color Code from YELLOW to ORANGE

Volcanic Activity:

Episode 47 lava fountaining is forecast to begin today or tomorrow based upon geophysical data. Additionally, webcam observations of small spatter bursts indicate that lava is close to the surface in the eruptive vents. Because an eruption is imminent, HVO is raising the Alert Level for Kīlauea from ADVISORY to WATCH and the Aviation Color Code from YELLOW to ORANGE. Alert level and aviation color code definitions can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/alert-level-system. Low-level precursory activity may occur before the onset of lava fountaining episode 47, in the form of lava overflows and more vigorous spattering. Another Volcano Activity Notice will be published when lava fountaining begins.

All eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Tephra fall from volcanic ash clouds is greatest within 3 miles (5 kilometers) of the vents, lighter ash and Pele's Hair may stay suspended for large distances from the vents.
Support science and community awareness by reporting tephra fall: https://hawaiiash.science/report_form
Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos that show eruptive lava fountains are available here: https://youtube.com/@usgs/streams
KPcam and MKcam provide views of the plume height for aviation purposes
Additional short updates as the episode progresses will be posted here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages
Timeline of eruptive episodes since December 23, 2024: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/eruption-information

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:

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
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

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 131845   
VONA
DTG:                    20260513/1845Z
VOLCANO:                KILAUEA 332010
PSN:                    N1925 W15517
AREA:                   HAWAII
SOURCE ELEV:            4091FT AMSL
NOTICE NR:              2026/28
CURRENT COLOUR CODE:    ORANGE
PREVIOUS COLOUR CODE:   YELLOW
SVO:                    HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
ACT STS:                ERUPTION ONGOING
ONSET:                  UNKNOWN
DUR:                    ONGOING EPISODIC
VA CLD HGT:             NO VA CLD PRODUCED
HGT SOURCE:             NO VA CLD PRODUCED
MOV:                    NO VA CLD PRODUCED
CTC:                    HVO DUTY SCIENTIST: 808-785-3144
RMK:                    EPISODE 47 LAVA FOUNTAINING IS FCST TO BEGIN LATER TODAY OR TOMORROW. PRECURSORY LAVA
                        FLOWS HAVE NOT BEGUN BUT MAY OCCUR PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF FOUNTAINING. TRADE WINDS ARE
                        EXPECTED TO CARRY MOST TEPHRA TO THE SSW OF KĪLAUEA'S SUMMIT.
NXT NOTICE:             A NEW VONA WILL BE ISSUED IF COND CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OR IF THE COLOR CODE CHANGES
NNNN