USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-02-16T00:21:49+00:00

Activity Summary: 

• Episode 42 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 1:50 p.m. HST on February 15, 2026, and is still continuing.
• Precursory activity for this episode took place over the preceding day (1:05 pm HST February 14), and included over 10 overflows in a range of sizes as well as in-vent spattering. In the hours leading up to the episode onset, significantly larger overflows issued from both north and south vent.
• Continuous overflows began at 1:08 pm HST from the south vent with overflows from the north vent starting later.
• As of 2:45 p.m. HST, both vents are fountaining, with fountain heights of approximately 1000-1200 feet high (300-350 meters) and about 800-100 feet high (250-300 meters) from north and south vent, respectively. The episode is producing ash and tephra, most of which appears to be dispersing to the southwest under the influence of relatively strong ground-level winds from the northeast. The plume top has reached over 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) above sea level and may potentially spread fine ash and Pele's hair in other directions depending on the ultimate height reached.
• No tephra fall has been reported in public areas at this time.

Resources:

• Additional short messages during episodes: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages   
• Timeline of eruptive episodes since December 23, 2024: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/eruption-information 
• 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.