USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-01-27T18:51:08+00:00

Activity Summary:

The Halemaʻumaʻu eruption of Kīlauea paused on January 24 at 7:29 p.m. HST at the end of episode 41 fountaining. Based on preliminary data, the current forecast for the onset of episode 42 lava fountaining is between February 10 to 20, 2026. 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:                                                                                                                        

Consistent glow was visible on webcams within the south vent overnight, while glow from the north vent was intermittent. Seismic tremor continued in the past 24 hours with 2-3 pulses of increased tremor every ten minutes, with weak micro seismic swarm activity at times. No earthquakes were located beneath Kīlaueaʻs summit in the last 24 hours.  Overnight webcam views show a few points of incandescence as lava flows from episode 41 continue to cool on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Sporadic creeping and incandescence may continue for another day or two.

The UWD tiltmeter recorded 8.0 microradians of inflation since the end of episode 41, including an increase of 2.3 microradians in the past 24 hours.

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Pāhala at 11:37 pm last night caused a -0.25 microradian measurement offset at summit tiltmeter at Sand Hill (SDH); this is a response of the instrument itself and does not indicate any changes at the Kīlauea summit region following the earthquake. The same earthquake produced transient spikes in the data at other summit area tiltmeters (including UWD). More information about the earthquake is available here: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-01-27T09:58:09+00:00

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.

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 from the vents, and presence of low-level volcanic tremor after episode 41 indicate that another lava fountaining episode is likely. Based on preliminary data, the current forecast for the onset of episode 42 lava fountaining is between February 10 to 20, 2026, but more time and data are needed for a more accurate forecast.

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 episode 41:

Episode 41 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 11:10 a.m. HST on January 24, 2026, marked by a sharp increase in tremor and deflationary tilt at recorded at the Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD). North and south vent fountain heights peaked just after 12:30 p.m., with maximum fountain heights estimated around 460 to 480 m (1500 to 1575 feet). Fountains from both vents remained relatively close in size during the eruption but began slowly declining after 1:00 p.m. HST. Widespread tephra fall was reported in the National Park and surrounding areas including communities to the north of the National Park. Fine ash was reported falling as far away as Hilo and coastal areas of Puna. 

Episode 41 lava fountaining from the north vent stopped at approximately 7:26 p.m. HST on January 24. The south vent dropped rapidly, then jetted back up for 30 seconds just prior to the eruption ceasing at 7:29 p.m. HST January 24. Episode 41 ended after 8 hours and 18 minutes with both the north and south vents active for most of the eruption. The highest peak or instantaneous effusion rate of 1050 cubic yards (800 cubic meters) per second occurred just after 12:30 p.m. HST on January 24. Episode 41 ended with an average effusion rate of 470 cubic yards per second (360 cubic meters per second). An estimated 14 million cubic yards (11 million cubic meters) of lava erupted and covered about 80-85% of Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. The Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) recorded about 31 microradians of deflationary tilt during episode 41. 

Tephra was reported in communities including Volcano Village, Mauna Loa Estates, Ohia Estates, Mountain View, Fern Acres, Kurtistown, Ainaloa Estates, Hilo, Hawaiian Paradise Parks, Hawaiian Beaches, and Pahoa. Tephra fall in more distant communities (Mountain View, Fern Acres, Kurtistown, Ainaloa Estates, Hilo, Hawaiian Paradise Parks, Hawaiian Beaches, and Pahoa) is fine-grained ash and Pele's hair. Falling tephra can pose a health hazard and may contaminate catchment water supplies.  See this State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health release for more information. https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/news-release-doh-urges-caution-with-elevated-volcanic-gas-emissions/. 

Resources:

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.