Activity Summary:

The ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption is paused. The end of episode 27 on June 29 coincided with a switch from deflationary tilt to inflationary tilt at the summit and a decrease in seismic tremor intensity. Summit inflation continues at this time, along with persistent, low-level seismic tremor in association with gas piston cycles at the eruptive vent(s). Incandescent glow has been visible at the north vent in overnight webcam views, as well as intermittent minor lava spattering and jetting. These observations indicate that another lava fountaining episode is probable, and the current summit inflation rate suggests it will occur sometime between July 8 and 10, with July 8–9 (Tuesday–Wednesday) being the most likely. This window is subject to change due to variations in the summit inflation rate and other factors, and it will be refined as more data become available.

Fountaining episodes have occurred approximately once per week since the start of the current eruption on December 23, 2024. All eruptive activity remains within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and no significant activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. Current hazards include ongoing volcanic gas emissions, along with windblown volcanic glass (Pele’s hair) and tephra deposited during past fountaining episodes in the Kīlauea summit region of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and nearby communities.

Summit Observations:

At the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu within the western part of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera), incandescent glow has been visible in overnight webcam views since shortly after episode 27. Additionally, intermittent minor lava spattering and jetting has been observed at the same location the past few nights.

The tiltmeter near Uēkahuna (UWD) has recorded approximately 14 microradians of inflationary tilt since the end of episode 27. UWD recorded more than 16 microradians of deflationary tilt during the fountaining episode. Seismic tremor persists at low levels beneath Halemaʻumaʻu crater in association with gas piston cycles at the eruptive vent(s); see the link in bullets below for a Volcano Watch article explaining gas pistoning.

Vigorous degassing continues from both the north and south vents. The typical sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate during inter-episode pauses, such as the current pause, is around 1,200 tonnes/day.

Strands of volcanic glass known as Pele’s hair are present throughout the summit area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and surrounding communities and can be remobilized by wind.

• 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
• Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos are available here: Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii (West Halemaʻumaʻu crater) v1cam, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii (East Halemaʻumaʻu crater) v2cam, and Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii (South Halemaʻumaʻu crater) v3 cam
• Summit eruption webcams: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit-webcams
• Volcano Watch article on gas pistoning: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-so-what-earth-or-least-kilauea-a-gas-piston

Rift Zone Observations:

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation remain very low in the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone, with no significant earthquake activity in the past 24 hours. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from the East Rift Zone remain below the detection limit.

Analysis: 

The forecast window for the start of episode 28 lava fountaining is sometime between July 8 and 10 based on the current rate of summit inflation, with July 8–9 (Tuesday–Wednesday) being the most likely. This window is subject to change due to variations in the summit inflation rate and other factors, and it will be refined as more data become available. Episode 28 fountaining will likely be preceded by hours to days of sustained precursory activity such as lava spattering and small lava flows from the eruptive vent(s).

The current eruption has been characterized by episodic lava fountaining not seen in any eruptions since the 1983–86 episodic fountains at the beginning of the Puʻuʻōʻō eruption. Lava fountains and flows have erupted from two vents within Halema'um'a'u crater that we refer to as the north vent and south vent. Each of the previous fountaining episodes lasted from a few hours to over a week and was accompanied by strong deflation of the summit region. Pauses between the fountaining episodes have been marked by an immediate switch from deflation to inflation as the magma chamber recharges and repressurizes. Fountaining episodes have occurred approximately once per week since the start of the current eruption on December 23, 2024.

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.

Hazards: 

This episodic eruption is occurring within a closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. High levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind. As SO₂ is continuously released from the summit during an eruption, it will react in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) downwind of Kīlauea. SO₂ and vog may cause respiratory and other problems at high concentrations. Further information on vog can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org/

Additional hazards include Pele's hair and other volcanic fragments from lava fountains. Pele's hair is strands of volcanic glass often produced by lava fountaining activity. Volcanic fragments can fall on the ground within a few hundred yards (meters) of the eruptive vent(s), or downwind of the vent(s). Strong winds may waft light particles, including Pele's hair, to greater distances downwind. Once they are on the ground, Pele's hair can sometimes cluster and tangle together, giving it the appearance of a tumbleweed. The extent of Pele's hair deposition is dependent on lava fountaining activity and current wind conditions. Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to Pele's hair and other volcanic fragments, which can cause skin and eye irritation. More information about how Pele's hair forms, its hazards, and what to do is available here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-recent-lava-fountains-highlight-peles-hair-hazards. A recently updated Frequently Asked Questions document that includes information about potential health effects of Pele's hair is available here: https://vog.ivhhn.org/sites/default/files/PelesHair_FAQs_v2.pdf

Hawaiian lava flows generally advance slowly downslope, and during this eruption flows have been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera.

Other significant hazards also remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. 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.