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USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-08-13T00:22:02+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: Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 3:53 PM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H385
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Summary: Episode 53 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 3:45 p.m. HST on August 12, 2026.

Volcanic Activity:

Episode 53 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began from the north vent at 3:45 p.m. HST on August 12, 2026. Fountaining is currently 80-100 ft (25-30 meters) high and expected to reach a maximum height in 1-2 hours. 

Fountain activity transitioned gradually from precursory lava flows from the north vent. Small glimpses of spatter were seen after 10:00 a.m. HST but spatter was not consistently visible until 11:04 a.m. HST. This was followed by a series of short-lived lava overflows that began at 11:20 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 11:45 a.m., and 12:23 p.m. HST, each lasting 1-4 minutes. A fifth sluggish flow began around 1:00 p.m. HST and became sustained, gradually growing for about 45 minutes.  At 1:45 p.m. HST, there was a dramatic increase in output correlated with a switch to deflationary tilt. A double dome fountain formed and began feeding a broad overflow that rapidly extended more than 2000 feet (600 meters) from the vent. Large overflows from the south vent began at 3:26 p.m. and 3:38 p.m. HST and lasted approximately 5-6 minute each. A small flow was also visible from the collapse crater behind the south vent beginning at 3:31 p.m. HST. 

Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that winds are blowing from the northeast direction, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the southwest direction from Halemaʻumaʻu. Winds above the inversion layer are more easterly and expected to carry tephra westward, if the fountains are high enough. The volcanic gas plume is currently 6,000 ft above ground level. 

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: ggenerally 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 130153   
VONA
DTG:                    20260813/0153Z
VOLCANO:                KILAUEA 332010
PSN:                    N1925 W15517
AREA:                   HAWAII
SOURCE ELEV:            4091FT AMSL
NOTICE NR:              2026/54
CURRENT COLOUR CODE:    ORANGE
PREVIOUS COLOUR CODE:   ORANGE
SVO:                    HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
ACT STS:                ERUPTION ONGOING
ONSET:                  20260813/0145Z
DUR:                    ONGOING EPISODIC
VA CLD HGT:             UNKNOWN
HGT SOURCE:             WEBCAM
MOV:                    UNKNOWN
CTC:                    HVO DUTY SCIENTIST: 808-785-3144
RMK:                    LAVA FOUNTAIN EPISODE 53 STARTED AT KILAUEA SUMMIT. CURRENT FOUNTAIN HEIGHTS 80-100
                        FT AGL. PEAK FOUNTAINING OCCURS 1-2 HOURS AFTER ONSET AND TYPICALLY REACHES 500-1500
                        FT AGL WITH PLUMES UP TO 10,000-25,000 FT AMSL. DOWNWIND TEPHRA FALLOUT IS POSSIBLE.
NXT NOTICE:             A NEW VONA WILL BE ISSUED IF COND CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OR IF THE COLOR CODE CHANGES
NNNN