USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-10-06T18:56:12+00:00

HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)

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

Issued: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 9:20 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H475
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Summary: A shallow intrusion occurred beneath Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit Kīlauea volcano Sep 30–Oct 1. At present there is minor spattering at both north and south vents. It is not possible to forecast the onset of episode 55 fountains or if they will occur.

Volcanic Activity:

HVO is issuing a weekly Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) and associated Volcano Activity Notices (VAN) which are now required to be reissued weekly for volcanoes at ORANGE. (VONA repeat interval is daily for volcanoes at RED and every two weeks for volcanoes at YELLOW).

A shallow intrusion occurred beneath Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit Kīlauea volcano September 30–October 1. Overflow activity from north and south vents stopped shortly after intrusion ended. Minor spattering resumed at north and south vents on October 5 and is continuing. These may either lead to episode 55 high fountains or, alternatively, to opening of a new vent. Forecast windows for episode 55 fountaining can no longer be modeled due to changes in conditions. Episode 54 fountaining ended at 7:33 p.m. HST on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. HVO continues to closely monitor ongoing activity. Please see the Daily Update for Kīlauea for more details.

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 Peleʻs Hair may stay suspended for large distances from the vents.
Timeline of eruptive episodes since December 23, 2024: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/eruption-information
Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
Additional short updates shared during the episode can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages

Remarks:

Hazard Analysis: 

Volcanic Gas: water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) 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 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 at the links below:

Lava flows: lava 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 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:

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
Kīlauea webcam images: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/webcams
Kīlauea photos/video: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/photo-and-video-chronology
Kīlauea lava-flow maps: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/maps
Kīlauea FAQs: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/faqs

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 061920   
VONA
DTG:                    20261006/1920Z
VOLCANO:                KILAUEA 332010
PSN:                    N1925 W15517
AREA:                   HAWAII
SOURCE ELEV:            4091FT AMSL
NOTICE NR:              2026/64
CURRENT COLOUR CODE:    ORANGE
PREVIOUS COLOUR CODE:   ORANGE
SVO:                    HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
ACT STS:                NIL
ONSET:                  NIL
DUR:                    NIL
VA CLD HGT:             NO VA CLD PRODUCED
HGT SOURCE:             NO VA CLD PRODUCED
MOV:                    NO VA CLD PRODUCED
CTC:                    HVO DUTY SCIENTIST: 808-785-3144
RMK:                    SHALLOW INTRUSION OCCURED BENEATH HALEMAʻUMAʻU (SUMMIT OF KĪLAUEA VOLCANO) SEP
                        30–OCT 1. AT PRESENT, MINOR SPATTERING AT BOTH N AND S VENTS. THESE MAY OR MAY NOT
                        LEAD TO EPISODE 55 HIGH FOUNTAINS. HVO IS CAREFULLY MONITORING THE ONGOING ACTIVITY.
NXT NOTICE:             A NEW VONA WILL BE ISSUED IF COND CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OR IF THE COLOR CODE CHANGES
NNNN