USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2025-02-04T18:28:35+00:00

Activity Summary:  

Kīlauea is erupting in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Episode 8 of the ongoing summit eruption began at 9:52 p.m. HST on February 3, 2025.

The is the eighth episode of Kīlauea's ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Kaluapele (the summit caldera) that began on December 23, 2024. Fountain-fed lava flows from the north and south vents are erupting onto the crater floor. Lava fountains reached heights of up to 330 feet (100 meters) during the initial hours of episode 8, and were averaging heights of up to 160 feet (50 meters) at 9:20 a.m. on February 4. Current SO₂ emission rates are estimated to be 10,000 t/d or higher. Deflationary tilt at the summit continues. Seismic tremor remains elevated. Earthquake counts remain low beneath the summit and rift zones. All eruptive activity is occurring in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Current hazards include volcanic gas emissions and windblown volcanic glass (Pele’s Hair) that may impact Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and nearby communities.

Summit Observations:

Vigourous, sustained lava fountains from both the north and south vents are feeding lava flows in Halema'uma'u crater. Fountains began erupting from the north vent at 9:52 p.m. HST and from the south vent at 11:50 p.m. HST on February 3. Fountains reached peak estimated heights of up to 330 feet (100 meters) during the first few hours of activity. Estimated fountain heights of 130 to 160 feet (40 to 50 meters) at the north vent, and 80 to 115 feet (25 to 35 meters) at the south vent, were being observed as of 9:20 a.m. on February 4. Active lava flows now cover approximately half of the crater floor. 

The Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) switched from inflation to deflation, and seismic tremor increased, at about 9:52 p.m. on February 3, the same time lava flows began erupting onto the crater floor. Deflationary tilt continues. UWD has recorded nearly 8 microradians of deflationary tilt since the beginning of episode 8. Seismic tremor remains elevated. No significant earthquakes were recorded in the summit region over the past 24 hours. 

Weather conditions and episode timing have prevented accurate measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate since earlier in the eruption sequence. Based on emissions measured during earlier episodes and pauses, SO₂ emission rates are estimated to be near 10,000 tonnes per day.

Strands of volcanic glass known as Pele’s Hair have been reported on surfaces throughout the summit area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and surrounding communities. 

Summit eruption livestream: https://www.youtube.com/usgs/live

Summit eruption webcams: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit-webcams 

Summit eruption reference map: January 15, 2025—Kīlauea summit eruption reference map | U.S. Geological Survey

Volcano Watch article about Pele's Hair from this eruption: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-recent-lava-fountains-highlight-peles-hair-hazards

Rift Zone Observations:

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation remain very low in the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone with no significant earthquake activity in the past 24 hours. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from the East Rift Zone remains below detection limit.

Analysis: 

The current eruption is marked by episodic fountaining not seen in any of the other Halemaʻumaʻu eruptions since 2020. Fountains and lava flows have erupted from two vents that we refer to as the north vent and south vent. The previous 7 fountaining episodes lasted from a few hours to over a week. Each fountaining episode has been accompanied by strong deflation of the summit region. Pauses between the fountaining episodes have been marked by an immediate change from deflation to inflation as the magma chamber recharges and repressurizes.

Timeline of eruptive episodes since December 23, 2024: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/eruption-information

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.

Hazards: 

The eruption has been occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. High levels of volcanic gas—water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind. As SO₂ is continuously released from the summit during an eruption, it will react in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) downwind of Kīlauea. Vog information can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org/.

Pele's hair, which are strands of volcanic gas often produced by lava fountaining activity, can be carried by the wind. It can sometimes cluster and tangle together on the ground, giving it the appearance of a tumbleweed. The extent of Pele's hair is dependent on lava fountaining activity and current wind conditions. More information about how Pele's hair is formed is available here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-peles-hairs-a-beautiful-hazard-island-hawaii. A Frequently Asked Questions document developed for the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption includes information about potential health effects of Pele's hair and is available here: https://vog.ivhhn.org/sites/default/files/FAQ_on_air_quality_and_health_during_Mauna_Loa_eruption_v1.6.pdf

Hawaiian 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. Additional hazards include Pele's hair and other volcanic fragments from lava fountains that can fall on the ground within a few hundred yards (meters) of the eruptive vent(s), or on the western caldera rim downwind of the vent(s). Strong winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances downwind, and wind directions are variable. Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation.

Other significant hazards also remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. 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.

For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, please see: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards.