Kīlauea Eruption Status

The abrupt switch from summit deflation to inflation at the end of episode 52 along with glow from the vents indicates that episode 53 fountaining is likely. Preliminary tilt-based models have a forecast window for episode 52 from August 6 through August 14.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 52:A detailed account of episode 52 is given in the HVO Status Report issued on July 29: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-07-29T13:10:51+00:00Episode 52 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 7:10 p.m. HST on July 28 and ended abruptly at 2:36 a.m. HST on July 29, 2026.The maximum lava fountain height was approximately 500 feet (150 meters) above ground level from the north vent. The south vent never fountained during this episode but did emit flames at the end of the eruption. The maximum plume height was approximately 19,000 (5,800 meters) above mean sea level. Tephra fall was restricted mostly to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the southwest of the active Halemaʻumaʻu vents. 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-informationShort messages tracking the evolution of the lava fountains and eruptive activity can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messagesThree Kīlauea summit livestream cameras that show eruptive lava fountains are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@usgs/streamsSummit eruption webcams: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit-webcamsVolcano 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.More Information:Kīlauea activity summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8862Kīlauea webcam images: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/webcamsKīlauea photos/video: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/photo-and-video-chronologyKīlauea lava-flow maps: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/mapsKīlauea FAQs: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/faqsThe Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawaiʻi and American Samoa. CONTACT INFORMATION: askHVO@usgs.govSubscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazardsRecent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvoExplanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes