USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-03-11T15:19:25+00:00

Activity Summary:

The Halemaʻumaʻu eruption of Kīlauea is paused. Episode 43 ended last night at 6:21 p.m. HST. Very preliminary models suggest that episode 44 fountains are likely to occur between the end of March and the first half of April.

No significant activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

A summary of episode 43 can be found in this Status Report.

See the citizen reported tephra fall map for episode 43 here: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory | Tephra Reports Map

NOTE: The V1 Camera was knocked over during episode 43. Crews will attempt to repair it in the next few days weather permitting.

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

Summit Observations:                                                                                                                        

Episode 43 ended at 6:21 p.m. HST after fountaining for just over 9 hours from both vents and sending tephra into surrounding communities. A complete summary of activity can be found here. Bright glow from both vents was visible through the night. At this time, both vents are quiet and emitting plumes of gas.

Lava flows remained incandescent and continued to spread across the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater covering another 5-10% along the southeastern margin of the crater. Incandescence dimmed and flows slowed significantly in the early morning hours.  Lava emplaced around and above the vents continued to creep downslope into the crater but also slowed in the early morning hours.  Incandescence on the crater floor may remain for several days and flows around the vent will likely continue to move downslope during this time.

Seismic tremor continues during the current pause, with bursts of tremor every three to five minutes typically associated with gas pistoning within the vent. There were less than 10 small earthquakes located across the summit region in the last 24 hours.

The Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) recorded ~33.7 microradians of deflation in association with yesterday’s fountaining. Since the cessation of fountaining, inflation has resumed, with the tiltmeter recording a recovery of nearly 3.9 microradians.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rates from the summit have typically averaged 1000-1500 t/d during eruptive pauses. Webcams show cloudy conditions at the summit. The National Weather Service forecast for the Kīlauea summit region for today indicates winds from the southwest at 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. This forecast indicates that the SO₂ plume from summit vents is generally being carried to the northeast this morning.  

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 tilt and strong glow from both vents indicates that another fountaining episode is likely. There is not enough information at this time to develop a forecast window for episode 44.  Based on deflation associated with episode 43 and preliminary models, the next fountaining episode will likely take place between the end of March and the first half of April.

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 42:

A recap of episode 42 can be found in this Status Report.

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-pist…

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 pollution) 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, 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 https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/resource-and-guidance-for-volcanic-tephra-fall/
• Lava flows: lava on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera, remains hot and may slowly move in the days immediately following an eruptive episode.

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.