USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-10-06T20:22:18+00:00

Overview:

Both north and south vents in Halemaʻumaʻu erupted minor amounts of spatter overnight, along with strong glow and flaming.  Summit tiltmeters recorded minor inflation.

Episode 55 fountaining remains a possibility as Kīlauea summit region remains at a high level of pressurization. Additional intrusive activity below Kīlauea summit caldera could also potentially occur and lead to the eruption of lava in a new location within the caldera.

No anomalous seismic activity or deformation has occurred outside of the summit region. HVO will issue additional notifications will be issued as needed based on observations and monitoring data. 

• STATUS REPORT published during recent intrusive activity: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-10-01T08:14:21+00:00
• VOLCANO WATCH summarizing recent intrusive activity: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-intrusion-during-eruption-summit-kilauea 
• STATUS REPORT on changes in activity and implications for this eruption: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-09-15T03:18:09+00:00 

NOTE: Significant changes in activity between Daily Updates are posted here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages

Summit Observations:

Both north and south vents erupted minor amounts of spatter overnight, along with strong glow and flaming. 

In the past 24 hours, there were 5 shallow earthquakes located across the summit region of Kīlauea. The Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) recorded approximately 1 microradian of inflation.

During inter-episode pauses, the sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate from the summit typically varies between 1,000 and 5,000 tonnes per day. Winds are currently forecast from the northeast.

Rift Zone Observations:

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation remain low in the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone. SO₂ emissions from the East Rift Zone remain below the detection limit. No significant ground deformation was recorded in either rift zone.

Analysis:

Kīlauea had been erupting episodically between December 23, 2024, and August 25, 2026, from two vents (north and south) in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit. Lava fountaining episodes generally lasted for less than 12 hours and were separated by pauses of two or more weeks. Forecast windows for fountaining episodes can no longer be modeled due to the irregular changes in inflation and deflation at Kīlauea summit since the most recent lava fountaining episode, number 54 on August 25, 2026. It is possible that another fountaining episode from the north-south-west vent complex could occur because the summit system remains active and highly pressurized. However, additional intrusive activity underneath Kaluapele, similar to what occurred between September 30 and October 1 could also occur; alternately, magma could exploit existing weak crack systems in the summit region and erupt passively (with little or no seismicity or deformation), as occurred September 14-16. Kīlauea volcano alert level and aviation color code remain at WATCH/ORANGE and conditions could change rapidly. For further details about potential scenarios see the September 15 Status Report.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and is in contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency about eruptive hazards.

Please see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm

Resources:

The following links provide more information about the current Kīlauea summit eruption that began on December 23, 2024:

• Eruption resources, including the most recent map and a timeline of eruption episodes since December 23, 2024: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/eruption-information
• Short messages tracking the evolution of the lava fountains and eruptive activity can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages
• Three Kīlauea summit livestream cameras that show eruptive lava fountains are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
• Summit eruption webcams: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit-webcams
• Volcano Watch article on gas pistons: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-so-what-earth-or-least-kilauea-a-gas-piston

Hazards:

Eruptive activity since December 2024 has been occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. However, recent intrusions highlight that the location of eruptive activity could change. Intrusions can also be hazardous with potential to cause earthquakes, ground cracks, and small landslides. The primary hazards at Kīlauea due to eruptive activity and/or intrusions are:

• Volcanic Gas: High levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—are continually released during an eruption. Emissions can remain locally hazardous in the areas immediately downwind of the vents, even when the vents are not actively erupting. SO₂ reacts in the atmosphere to create vog (volcanic air pollution) downwind. SO₂ and vog may cause respiratory and other problems at high concentrations. 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/ and https://vog.ivhhn.org/sites/default/files/PelesHair_FAQs_v2.pdf 
• Lava flows: Hawaiian lava flows generally advance slowly downslope but destroy everything in their paths. Lava flows that erupt within Halemaʻumaʻu crater remain confined to Halemaʻumaʻu and Kaluapele. Lava flows from the eruption that started in December 2024 have been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu, an area closed to the public. Hazards associated with active or recent lava flows include hot and glassy (sharp) surfaces that can cause serious burns, abrasions, and lacerations upon contact with unprotected or exposed skin; uneven and rough terrain can lead to falls and other injuries; hot temperatures that can cause heat exhaustion or dehydration, or in heavy rain can produce steamy ground-fog that can be acidic, severely limiting visibility and sometimes causing difficulty breathing.
• Earthquakes and ground cracks: Shallow magma movement and eruptions can produce minor to severe ground fractures and subsidence features. These ground cracks can continue to widen and offset as magma migration continues, may have unstable overhanging edges, and should be avoided. Other significant hazards exist around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes.

Additionally, close to the eruptive 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.