USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-15T01:39:36+00:00

Activity Summary: 

Episode 49 is continuing with lava fountains about 330 feet (100 m) high feeding a volcanic plume above the summit of Kīlauea volcano. The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement at 2:55 p.m. HST indicating winds near the summit of Kīlauea are light and variable, which may possibly lead to trace amounts of fine ash and Peleʻs hair falling on areas surrounding the summit. Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense also issued a message alerting residents to possible ash fall with a reminder to close windows and disconnect water catchment systems to avoid ash if necessary. USGS HVO field teams just finished driving Highway 11 from the 36 mile marker west of Volcano sown to Ohia Estates. They reported finding no significant ash or Peleʻs hair fall at this time from any of the communities immediately surrounding the summit of Kīlauea at this time. Within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, scattered Peleʻs hairs were seen on cars near KMC, but nothing detectable was seen falling as field teams drove through the area. While no significant ash has been detected, fine ash and Peleʻs hair can remain suspended for several hours after the eruption ends. Current wind conditions near the vents as seen on our live stream cameras is from the southwest. If ash fall is reported, we will post messages on our website at the link below.

Resources:

• National Weather Service Special Weather Statment for Kīlauea: WWA Summary by Location for 19.44N 155.27W with HIZ052/HIC001/HIZ338 emphasis Special Weather State…
• Additional short messages during episodes including ash fall reports: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages   
• Civil Defense Message about potential ash fall: https://evb.gg/n#wihmm5adyds/0kOSXJ3r
• Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos: https://www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams 
• Report tephra fall: https://hawaiiash.science/report_form 
• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Information https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
• County of Hawaii Hazard Impact Map: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/5865229bcba74020992b372ef18b6f17

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 smog) 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 the links below:
  • https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/resource-and-guidance-for-volcanic-tephra-fall/  
  • https://vog.ivhhn.org/sites/default/files/PelesHair_FAQs_v2.pdf
• 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.