USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-15T02:51:53+00:00

HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)

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

Issued: Thursday, May 14, 2026, 5:18 PM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H229
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Summary: Episode 47 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption continues as of 5:00 p.m. HST on May 14.

Volcanic Activity:

Lava fountaining episode 47 in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:27 p.m. HST on May 14 and continues as of this notice. Fountaining activity has been focused at the north vent, though the south vent has been spattering periodically.

The National Weather Service reports that the plume from this eruption is reaching 20,000 feet above sea level. Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that low-altitude winds are blowing from the northeast direction, which indicates that most volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material will distributed to the southwest of Halemaʻumaʻu. However, the National Weather Service reports that higher-altitude winds are blowing from the southwest direction above 15,000 feet above sea level, suggesting that light tephra fallout is possible to the northeast of Kīlauea summit.

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 km) of the vents, lighter ash and Pele's Hair may stay suspended for large distances from the vents.
Help 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 150318   
VONA
DTG:                    20260515/0318Z
VOLCANO:                KILAUEA 332010
PSN:                    N1925 W15517
AREA:                   HAWAII
SOURCE ELEV:            4091FT AMSL
NOTICE NR:              2026/30
CURRENT COLOUR CODE:    ORANGE
PREVIOUS COLOUR CODE:   ORANGE
SVO:                    HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
ACT STS:                ERUPTION ONGOING
ONSET:                  20260515/0127Z
DUR:                    ONGOING CONS
VA CLD HGT:             20000FT AMSL
HGT SOURCE:             RADAR
MOV:                    NE
CTC:                    HVO DUTY SCIENTIST: 808-785-3144
RMK:                    LAVA FOUNTAIN EPISODE 47 CONTINUES AT KILAUEA SUMMIT. FOUNTAINS CURRENTLY REACHING
                        650 FT AGL. NWS REPORTS PLUME CURRENTLY REACHING 20000 FT AMSL. DUE TO HIGH-ALTITUDE
                        WIND, LIGHT VA FALLOUT POSSIBLE IN THE NE DIRECTION BELOW 15000 FT AMSL VA FALLOUT TO
                        SW
NXT NOTICE:             A NEW VONA WILL BE ISSUED IF COND CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OR IF THE COLOR CODE CHANGES
NNNN