Episode 20 of Kīlauea eruption is short-lived with 4.5 hours of sustained fountaining

Episode 20 of the eruption at Kīlauea ended at 9:58 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, after 4.5 hours of sustained fountaining. The Halema’uma’u eruption is currently paused.

The sustained fountaining phase of episode 20 began at 5:28 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: “Lava fountains and flows erupted from both vents, but the north vent was much more active than the south vent during all phases of episode 20. Fountains from the north vent quickly reached estimated heights of more than 500 feet. Fountains from the south vent reached heights of up to about 65 feet.”

The HVO reports that lava flows from this episode covered less than half of the Halema’um’au crater floor.

“The sustained fountaining phase was preceded by almost 31 hours of precursory low-level activity that included gas-pistoning events in the north vent that produced low lava dome fountains, overflows, and drainbacks, as well as sluggish lava flows from the south vent,” according to the HVO.

Scientists say the end of episode 20 fountaining activity was accompanied by a rapid change in summit tilt from deflation to inflation, along with a rapid decrease in tremor.

Kīlauea’s current eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Kaluapele (the summit caldera) began on Dec. 23, 2024. There have now been 20 episodes separated by pauses in activity. All eruptive activity remains within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Current hazards include volcanic gas emissions and windblown volcanic glass (Pele’s hair) and tephra that have impacted Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and nearby communities.

Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code remain at WATCH/ORANGE.