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USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-31T03:58:43+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: Monday, June 1, 2026, 4:47 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H250
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Summary: Lava fountaining of episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea began at 4:40 a.m. HST on June 1. Fountaining activity is currently focused at the north vent, though the south vent has occasional overflows.

Volcanic Activity:

Lava fountaining for episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea began at 4:40 a.m. HST on June 1 with activity focused at the north vent.

Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that winds are blowing very lightly from the northeast direction. The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement indicating a potential for volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material to be carried by winds from the vents within Halemaʻumaʻu to the southwest at lower levels and to the east at higher levels in the atmosphere.  

WWA Summary by Location for 19.69N 155.5W with HIZ027/HIC001/HIZ342 emphasis Special Weather Statem…

Accordingly, HVO is leaving the Alert Level for Kīlauea at WATCH and the Aviation Color Code at ORANGE. 

Alert level and aviation color code definitions: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/alert-level-system. Another VAN will be published when lava fountaining for episode 48 reaches its peak height.

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 011447   
VONA
DTG:                    20260601/1447Z
VOLCANO:                KILAUEA 332010
PSN:                    N1925 W15517
AREA:                   HAWAII
SOURCE ELEV:            4091FT AMSL
NOTICE NR:              2026/33
CURRENT COLOUR CODE:    ORANGE
PREVIOUS COLOUR CODE:   ORANGE
SVO:                    HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
ACT STS:                ERUPTION ONGOING
ONSET:                  UNKNOWN
DUR:                    UNKNOWN
VA CLD HGT:             UNKNOWN
HGT SOURCE:             NO VA CLD PRODUCED
MOV:                    NO VA CLD PRODUCED
CTC:                    HVO DUTY SCIENTIST: 808-785-3144
RMK:                    LAVA FOUNTAINING EPISODE 48 OF THE ONGOING HALEMAʻUMAʻU ERUPTION AT THE SUMMIT OF
                        KĪLAUEA BEGAN AT 4:40 AM HST ON JUNE 1. FOUNTAINING ACTIVITY IS CURRENTLY FOCUSED AT
                        THE NORTH VENT. NWS HAS RELEASED A SWS ABOUT POTENTIAL ASH DISTRIBUTION.
NXT NOTICE:             A NEW VONA WILL BE ISSUED IF COND CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OR IF THE COLOR CODE CHANGES
NNNN