🌋 Kīlauea Eruption Status

Continued repose period inflation, tremor, and glow from the vents all indicate that episode 49 is likely. Inflation returned to normal rates across the summit yesterday after the brief decrease the previous day. While a few models show a slight possibility of the start of fountaining today, the lack of any precursory spattering or overflows make it seem highly unlikely. Forecast models based on Kīlauea summit region inflation rates suggest that the start of fountaining episode 49 is most likely June 13-15. If slow inflation continues at the summit, it could push the forecast further back.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 48:A detailed account of episode 48 is given in the HVO Status Report Issued June 1: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-02T00:33:02+00:00Episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at the summit of Kīlauea at 4:40 a.m. HST and ended abruptly at 1:37 p.m. HST on June 1, 2026, after 9 hours of continuous lava fountaining from the north vent. Lava fountains reached a maximum height of almost 650 ft (200 m) and lava flows covered 40% of the crater floor. The eruption is currently paused.The Halemaʻumaʻu eruption now has the most fountaining episodes ever recorded for an episodic fountaining eruption, edging out the Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption which had 47 fountain episodes. Other eruptions have had additional episodes related to changes in vent activity and location, this only applies to episodic fountains.Most tephra fell within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, but sparse reticulite up to 1 inch (2 centimeters) in size fell at both the Uēkahuna overlook and on Highway 11 west of Nāmakanipaio campground. Fine ash and Peleʻs hair was reported from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in communities to the northeast, including Mauna Loa Estates, Ohia Estates, Volcano village, and Royal Hawaiian Estates.Resources:NOTE: Several summit stations, including the SDH tiltmeter, 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