USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-01-24T16:29:00+00:00

Activity Summary:

Precursory overflows began from the north vent at 3:52 a.m. HST and continued since then. The forecast based on inflationary tilt models for the onset of the next lava fountaining episode is most likely today, January 24, or possibly tommorrow, January 25, if inflation is interrupted. Micro-seismicity continues in the summit region, but is much less energetic than earlier this week. No significant activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

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

Summit Observations:                                                                                                                        

Webcam views of Halemaʻumaʻu showed consistent strong glow from both the north and south vents, with frequent spattering at flames from the north vent until early morning. Spattering increased in intensity and the north vent began overflowing at 3:52 a.m. HST. Low fountains increased in height to 10-15 feet (3-5 meters) and effusion rate from the north vent at about 4:47 a.m. HST and overflows increased in size. The north vent has remained continuously active since the onset of overflows. The south vent has overflowed eight times this morning (4:11, 5:18, 6:13, 6:28, 6:40, 6:57, 7:14, 7:22 a.m. HST). The first four were short-lived and remained close to the vent. The four latest overflows were larger lasting 10-15 minutes and sent flows out onto the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Constant low-level tremor continues this morning.

There was only one very short period of elevated micro-seismicity occurred over the past day at around 8:30 p.m. HST January 23, but it had no impact on tilt rate at UWD. Only eight earthquakes were large enough to be located over the past 24 hours (all magnitude 1 or less) beneath the summit. Earthquake locations continue to be spread fairly widely beneath the summit region, as the seismicity is related to migrating magmatic pressure within the summit region. Currently, seismic events donʻt appear to be having a direct impact on the eruption. For more information see prior Daily Updates and this Information Statement for more details: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-01-23T03:39:44+00:00.

Since the end of episode 40, the UWD tiltmeter has recorded 18.5 microradians of inflationary tilt, with net 1.6 microradians of inflation over the past 24 hours. The one small period of micro-seismicity had no impact on the tilt at UWD.

The sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate from the summit was last measured on January 14 at 1,550 tonnes per day, which is within the typical range of 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes of SO₂ per day observed during previous eruptive pauses. This is considerably lower than rates observed during lava fountaining episodes. Current winds at the summit are light and variable with plumes rising nearly vertically. The NWS predicts light winds from the east and southeast today, suggesting that plumes might move to the west and northwest if episode 41 begins today.

Rift Zone Observations:

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation remain very low in the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone. SO₂ emissions from the East Rift Zone remain below the detection limit.

Analysis:

The rapid rebound of inflationary tilt, glow and spatter from the vents, and presence of low-level volcanic tremor after episode 40 indicate that another lava fountaining episode is likely. Everything currently points to resumption of fountaining episodes rather than a change in vent location. The continued repressurization of the Halemaʻumaʻu magma reservoir, continuous lava flows from the north vent all indicate episode 41 fountaining will take place in the next day. While seismic swarms continue, their intensity is reduced as well as their impact on reinflation of the summit. Models and activity indicate the onset of episode 41 lava fountaining is most likely to occur today January 24 with a slight possibility of tomorrow, January 25, if inflation is interupted by a significant seismic swarm or other event. 

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since December 23, 2024, primarily from two vents (north and south) in Halema‘uma‘u. Eruptive episodes, which generally last for less than 12 hours, are separated by pauses that can be as long as over two weeks.

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

Recap of Last Episode:

Episode 40 was preceded by precursory overflows that began from the south vent on January 8. Over the following days, dome fountains would form in the south vent, feeding overflows that occurred at rates of several per hour, while the north vent produced lava flows less frequently though spattering was often visible within the vent. On the morning of January 12, the north vent appeared to have a constricted opening, generated an arcuate spatter fountain that grew in vigor dramatically at 8:13 a.m. Strong deflation and an increase in tremor marked the start of episode 40 at 8:22 a.m. HST, when north vent fountains reached about 100 feet (30 meters) high. North vent fountain heights peaked at 800 feet (250 meters) high just before 10 a.m. With weak winds, the eruptive plume during episode 40 rose vertically to over 13,000 feet (4000 meters) above ground level before moving to southeast at higher altitudes. Most tephra from episode 40 lava fountains fell west of Halema'uma'u but also occasionally to the northwest and southwest as seen on V1 and V3 cams, with reticulite as large as 2 inches (5 cm) falling at the Uēkahuna Overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park briefly just after 10 a.m. Large whirlwinds or "puahiohio" also occurred during episode 40 and were visible in the livestreams. Episode 40 lava fountaining from the north vent stopped at approximately 7:04 p.m. HST on January 12 after 9.7 hours of sustained fountaining. While the south vent remained open and visibly degassing throughout episode 40, with occasional spatter visible, it did not produce a fountain during this episode. The highest peak or instantaneous effusion rate of 460 cubic yards (350 cubic meters) per second occurred around noon on January 12. Episode 40 ended with an average effusion rate of 250 cubic yards per second (190 cubic meters per second). An estimated 7.1 million cubic yards (5.5 million cubic meters) of lava erupted and covered about 50–60% of Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. The Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) recorded about 17 microradians of deflationary tilt during episode 40.

The following links provide more information about the current 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 fountains and eruptive activity can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages 
• Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos 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:

This episodic eruption is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

• 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 polution) 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, and reticulite—are created by the lava fountains. 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 and eye irritation. More information is available here: https://vog.ivhhn.org/sites/default/files/PelesHair_FAQs_v2.pdf. 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. 
• Lava flows: on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera, remain hot and may slowly move in the days immediately following an eruptive episode. 

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