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USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-07-15T20:15:42+00:00

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HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Issued: Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 10:36 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H340
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Summary: Episode 51 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption continues at 10:20 a.m. HST on July 15.

Volcanic Activity:

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 8:30 a.m. HST on July 15 and continues as of this notice. Fountain heights are at 950 feet (290 meters) and effusion rates have reached a peak of about 400 cubic yards per second (300 cubic meters per second) at 10:30 a.m. HST July 15.  

The National Weather Service reports that the plume from this eruption is reaching 18000 feet above sea level. Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that light winds are blowing from the northeast direction, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the southwest direction from Halemaʻumaʻu. At higher altitudes the plume is rising vertically at this time over an area just southwest of the vents. Most tephra fall currently remains within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.  Very light fall of Peleʻs hair was reported from the Kaʻu Desert trail head along Highway 11. No tephra is currrently falling in the town of Pāhala or anywhere outside of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

More details of the eruption are found in earlier USGS HVO reports:

Kīlauea Daily Update

Volcanic Activity Notice (VAN) at the start of episode 51

Short Messages on USGS HVO website and social media.

See the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency message from July 15 to prepare your home by closing windows and disconnecting catchment if necessary.

The NWS has issued a Special Weather Statement regarding potential impacts from wind-blown tephra during episode 51

All eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Tephra fall from volcanic ash clouds is greatest within 3 miles (5 km) of the vents, lighter ash and Pele's Hair may stay suspended for large distances from the vents.

Most lava fountaining episodes since December 23, 2024, have continued for a day or less.

Remarks:

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 air pollution) 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 https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/resource-and-guidance-for-volcanic-tephra-fall/  

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.



Contacts:

askHVO@usgs.gov



Next Notice:

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue additional notices as needed based on activity. Regularly scheduled daily updates for Kīlauea are posted on the HVO website at https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates  

More Information:



Subscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/
Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards
Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo
Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes

VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA)

WMPA01 PHVO 152036   
VONA
DTG:                    20260715/2036Z
VOLCANO:                KILAUEA 332010
PSN:                    N1925 W15517
AREA:                   HAWAII
SOURCE ELEV:            4091FT AMSL
NOTICE NR:              2026/47
CURRENT COLOUR CODE:    ORANGE
PREVIOUS COLOUR CODE:   ORANGE
SVO:                    HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
ACT STS:                ERUPTION ONGOING
ONSET:                  20260715/2030Z
DUR:                    ONGOING CONS
VA CLD HGT:             18000FT AMSL
HGT SOURCE:             RADAR
MOV:                    SW
CTC:                    HVO DUTY SCIENTIST: 808-785-3144
RMK:                    LAVA FOUNTAIN EPISODE 51 CONTINUES AT KILAUEA SUMMIT. FOUNTAINS CURRENTLY REACHING
                        950 FT AGL. NWS/VAAC REPORTS PLUME CURRENTLY REACHING 18000 FT AMSL. FALLOUT LIKELY
                        IN THE SOUTHWEST DIRECTION DOWNWIND OF VENTS.
NXT NOTICE:             A NEW VONA WILL BE ISSUED IF COND CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OR IF THE COLOR CODE CHANGES
NNNN