Episode 26 of the Kīlauea volcano’s ongoing eruption commenced overnight, continuing into Friday morning. Reports indicate that lava fountains reached impressive heights, exceeding 1,000 feet (300 meters) along with a volcanic plume soaring over 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) before 3 a.m. HST.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued its first Volcanic Activity Notice shortly before midnight on Thursday, marking the beginning of low-level precursory activity in Halemaʻumaʻu at approximately 11:26 p.m. HST. A subsequent notice followed just hours later, confirming the onset of the sustained lava fountaining phase around 1:40 a.m. HST on Friday, with both lava fountains and flows emanating from the north vent.
At the time this vigorous activity started, prevailing north winds were noted, which could affect the distribution of volcanic gas emissions and tephra, potentially impacting areas south of Halema’uma’u caldera. Despite the eruptive activity, there have been no significant changes reported in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
The current Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH/ORANGE, with all activity confined to the protected area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Given the continuous nature of the eruption, residents and visitors are encouraged to stay informed and adhere to safety advisories issued by the authorities. The spectacle of nature can be mesmerizing yet necessitates caution.