USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-12T18:17:36+00:00

Overview:

The eruption at the summit of Kīlauea is currently paused. Consistent degassing continue from both north and south vents. Overnight, south vent had strong consistent glow with frequent bursts of large flames, and north vent had weaker, but consistent glow with several small spatter events. The forecast window for episode 47, based on tilt data, suggests that lava fountaining will occur again sometime between Tuesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 14, with later today or tomorrow most likely. This window may be adjusted based on continuing observations.

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

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

Summit Observations:

Overnight, south vent had strong consistent glow with frequent bursts of large flames, likely caused by the ignition of volcanic gases escaping the vent. The north vent had weak consistent glow along with several small spatter bursts observed on webcams. Degassing continues at both vents.

Steady seismic tremor without tremor bursts continues similar to the past few days. Earthquake activity at the summit during and after episode 46 has been low, with 6 small earthquakes recorded in the past day.

The Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) recorded about 14.0 microradians of deflationary tilt during episode 46. Since the end episode 46, summit inflation continues, with the same tiltmeter recording about 13.0 microradians of inflationary tilt as of this morning. 

With the eruption now paused, the SO₂ emission rate is likely now varying within a typical range of 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes per day.  Current summit wind conditions are moderate from the north northeast and carrying the gas plume to the southwest.

Rift Zone Observations:

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation remain 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 return of inflationary tilt and strong glow from both Halemaʻumaʻu eruptive vents indicates that another lava fountaining episode is likely. The presence of strong glow and flames from the south vent along with a few small spatter events from the north vent overnight indicate magma is standing high in the vent system. Both the UWD and SMC tiltmeters have recovered to within a microradian of the deflation during episode 46. The forecast window for episode 47 is based on data from summit tiltmeters and assumes similar inflationary patterns as prior to episode 45 and 46. These and seismic velocity data suggest that lava fountaining will most likely occur sometime between later today, Tuesday, May 12, and Wednesday, May 13, with Thursday, May 14, less likely. The forecast window may be adjusted based on changes observed at summit tiltmeters and seismic instruments.

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

Wind Conditions:

A combination of lava fountaining dynamics and wind conditions determines where tephra fall may occur during an eruption episode. Larger particles fall near the vents while light particles may be wafted greater distances. Today's National Weather Service forecast for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park indicates wind conditions this week are for moderate to high north-northeast winds, which would carry tephra to the south-southwest of the summit. Today winds are forecast to be at about 14–22 mph, with gusts up to 31 mph from the north-northeast. 

Resources:

NOTE: HVO’s monitoring network is mostly recovered from recent power- and storm-related outages. Several summit stations, including the SDH tiltmeter, will remain offline until we are able to re-establish access across the deep tephra field south of the caldera.

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 lava fountains and eruptive activity can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages
• Three Kīlauea summit livestream cameras 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 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 eruptive 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.