USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-07-23T04:47:18+00:00

Activity Summary:  Kīlauea is not erupting. Increased rates of seismicity and ground deformation began at approximately 11:00 a.m. HST today, July 22, 2024, prompting the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) to issue a Kīlauea Status Report at 12:36 p.m. HST. As of 6:50 p.m., activity has decreased but remains elevated.  Currently, there are no signs of an imminent eruption; however, conditions could change quickly.   

HVO is in close contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Temporary closures have been implemented as a result of this elevated activity: https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/news/20240722-earthquakes.htm  

Over the past 8 hours, there have been approximately 150 earthquakes beneath Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone region, extending from Keanakākoʻi Crater southeast to Maunaulu. Activity peaked between noon and 2 p.m. HST, and earthquakes have been occurring at decreasing rates since then. Most earthquakes have been smaller than magnitude-2, though there were 6 events larger than magnitude-3. The largest earthquake was a magnitude-3.5 at 12:08 p.m. HST. Events have remained at depths of 1–3 km (0.6–1.8 miles) beneath the surface. Most earthquakes have been too small to feel, but several were reported felt in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and surrounding communities.  

Earthquake activity has been accompanied by elevated rates and changing patterns of ground deformation in Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone. However, tiltmeters in Kīlauea summit region (instruments SDH, southwest of the summit, and UWE, northwest of the summit) do not show significant changes associated with this activity.  

The Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code for Kīlauea remain at ADVISORY/YELLOW. HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea for signs of increasing activity. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued.  

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the middle and lower East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low. Current activity is restricted to the summit region and upper East Rift Zone.    

For more information about the meaning of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes, see https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes.