Newest Volcano Notice Including Kilauea

Overview:

The summit eruption of Kīlauea in Halemaʻumaʻu is paused following 7 hours of lava fountaining during episode 50 on June 27, 2026. Inflation measured by tiltmeters around the summit of Kīlauea resumed after episode 50 ended accompanied by continued glow from both vents, suggesting that another episode is likely. Forecast models indicate that the onset of fountaining episode 51 will likely be between July 6 and July 12; however, this forecast is based on preliminary data and may change in the coming days. 

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

A summary of episode 50 is posted below.

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

Summit Observations:

Bright glow and flames were visible from the south vent in Halemaʻumaʻu overnight, with intermittent glow visible from the north vent. Flames continue to be seen from the south and north vent this morning. Degassing plumes from both vents are being blown toward the southwest. Numerous bright, shifting incandescent spots were visible overnight from lava flows that erupted onto the floor of Halema'uma'u crater and the slopes of the active vents during episode 50. Strong glow was visible from cracks and around the edges of these flows and from overturns and breakouts that exposed still-molten lava. One large lava flow on the north side of the crater continued to creep slowly away from the north vent towards lower parts of the crater floor under its own weight as it cooled. Cooling and gravitational slumping of lava and tephra deposits on the slopes of the north vent is also occuring. There were several instances last night of incandescent blocks slumping toward the north vent, sometimes cascading directly into the vent. Some of these cascades caused flames to erupt from the vent after they fell inside. Slow movements from cooling lava flows and gravity induced slumps on the vents is expected to continue in the coming days and nights.

Low-frequency seismic pulsing began with the cessation of episode 50 and continues this morning, which is typical during the onset of pauses between eruptive episodes. There were eight earthquakes within Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) in the past 24 hours, the largest of which was a M1.8 beneath the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu. 

Kīlauea summit deflation totaled 15.3 microradians during episode 50. Once the episode ended, inflation resumed and has since recovered 2.2 microradians of tilt at the summit tiltmeter at Uēkahuna (UWD). 

The sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate from the summit is likely now varying within a typical range of 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes per day. 

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 abrupt switch from summit deflation to inflation at the end of episode 50 along with glow from the vents indicates that episode 51 fountaining is likely. Several more days of inflationary tilt data are needed to create a robust forecast window, but preliminary estimates suggest another fountaining episode may occur between 6-12 July.

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

Summary of episode 50:

A detailed account of episode 50 is given in the HVO Status Report Issued June 27: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-28T04:29:55+00:00

• Episode 50 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea ended abruptly at 5:10 p.m. HST on June 27, 2026, after 7 hours of continuous lava fountaining from the north vent. The eruption is currently paused.

• Tephra fall was restricted mostly to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the southwest of the active Halemaʻumaʻu vents. A light fall of Peleʻs hair was reported from the town of Pāhala in Kaʻū.

   

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 southwest 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.