Newest Volcano Notice Including Kilauea

Overview:

The Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea is currently paused. Consistent degassing continues from both eruptive vents. Overnight, the south vent had strong glow with periodic flaming, while the north vent had slightly weaker glow with several small spatter bursts. Based on current tilt data, the forecast window for lava fountaining episode 47 is sometime between today, May 13 and tomorrow, May 14; this window may be adjusted based on continuing observations. The episode could start at any time now, though accelerated precursory activity—overflows and more vigorous spattering—is expected to precede lava fountaining.

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 webcam views showed strong glow and periodic flaming at the Halemaʻumaʻu south vent, likely caused by the ignition of volcanic gases escaping the vent. Slightly weaker glow and several small spatter bursts were seen at the north vent. Degassing continues from both the vents and the surrounding area in the western part of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. During a helicopter overflight on Tuesday morning, May 12, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists observed lava ponds at shallow levels in both eruptive vents. 

Steady seismic tremor continues, without the tremor bursts that have been detected during pauses between prior lava fountaining episodes. Earthquake activity at the summit during and after episode 46 has been low.

Steady summit inflation continues; since the end of lava fountaining episode 46, the Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) has recorded approximately 14.1 microradians of inflationary tilt. This same instrument recorded about 14.0 microradians of deflationary tilt during episode 46. 

With the eruption now paused, the sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate is likely now varying within a typical range of 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes per day. Measurements conducted during yesterday morning's helicopter flight indicated an emission rate of 2,600 tonnes per day at the time, within the expected range. Current summit wind conditions are moderate from the north-northeast, carrying the volcanic 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:

Observations of strong glow and flames at the south vent, along with glow and spatter bursts at the north vent, indicate that lava is standing high in the vent system and that another lava fountaining episode is near. UWD has reinflated to about the same level that it reached just prior to episode 46. Based on both summit tilt and seismic velocity data—and assuming similar patterns to those detected before recent episodes—the forecast window for lava fountaining episode 47 is sometime between today, May 13 and tomorrow, May 14. The forecast window may be adjusted based on changes observed at summit tiltmeters and seismic instruments. The episode could start at any time now, though accelerated precursory activity—overflows and more vigorous spattering—is expected to precede lava fountaining.

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 eruptive episode. Larger particles fall near the vents while light particles may be wafted greater distances. The National Weather Service forecast for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park over the next two days indicates moderate to high winds (8 to 22 mph) out of the northeast to north-northeast, which would carry tephra to the southwest or south-southwest of the summit.

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.