#hawaii volcano
Dual lava fountains at Kīlauea cover 60-70% Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor during Episode 39
Episode 39 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended abruptly at 2:13 a.m. on Dec. 24, 2025 after 5.9 hours of continuous fountaining. Lava fountains from the south vent reached up to 1400 ft while north vent fountains were just under 1000 feet around 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 23.
Episode 39 of Kīlauea Volcano eruption to most likely begin Dec. 24-25
The forecast window for the onset of the next episode of lava fountaining at Kīlauea runs from Dec. 23-26, with Episode 39 likely to begin on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, according to scientists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Volcano Watch — Catching up on Kīlauea: 36 episodes and counting
Recent episodes featured the highest lava fountains, the most volume of lava erupted, and the highest rate of lava effusion for this event, which has now lasted over 10 months.
Episode 35 of Kīlauea eruption dazzles with dual fountains
Kīlauea summit inflation immediately resumed following the end of episode 35 and continues along with tremor and vent glow. These observations indicate that another fountaining episode is probable, but likely at least two weeks away.
Lava overflows as Episode 35 of ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea builds
Precursory low-level activity for episode 35 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption increased on Thursday morning, Oct. 16, 2025, with a series of lava overflows and drainbacks occurring from the south vent.
Update: 1,300 foot lava fountains observed during Episode 34 of eruption at Kīlauea
Update: Episode 34 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended abruptly at 7:03 a.m. HST on Oct. 1 after just over 6 hours of continuous fountaining.
500 foot lava fountains in episode 33 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea
Episode 33 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 3:11 a.m. HST on Friday, Sept. 19 and is currently fountaining within the summit caldera. Current fountain height is greater than 500 feet and the convective plume is about 10,000 feet AGL, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Update: Episode 31 of Kīlauea’s eruption at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater ends after 12 hours
Episode 31 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended abruptly at 2:52 a.m. HST on Aug. 23 after 12.6 hours of continuous fountaining. Lava fountains from the north vent reached up to 325 feet and sustained this height during most of this episode.
Episode 30 of Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea marked by vigorous fountaining
Episode 30 vigorous fountaining of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea began at approximately 1:20 a.m. HST on Wednesday, Aug. 6 and is currently producing broad fountains 150-300 feet high from the north vent.
Volcano Watch — Where does Kīlauea tephra go? The answer is blowin’ in the wind
The spectacular series of Kīlauea eruption episodes over the past six months has been remarkably safe for public viewing, but a simple change in the wind or brief vent collapse could cause dramatic changes in the hazards the volcano presents.
Volcano Watch — School’s out for Summer: Introducing New Interns at HVO
As another school year ends, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory welcomes two new summer interns: Kamalani Poepoe and Ruth Gale. With an ongoing eruption at the summit Kīlauea, now is the perfect time for these interns to contribute to ongoing work to better understand eruptions in Hawaiʻi.
Towering lava fountains observed in Episode 25 of Kīlauea eruption at Halemaʻumaʻu
Episode 25 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended at 8:08 p.m. HST on June 11, 2025, after about 8 hours of continuous fountaining. Lava fountains from the north vent reached over 1,000 ft during this episode.
Glow and spattering marks precursory activity for Episode 25 of Kīlauea eruption
Episode 25 precursory activity started within Halemaʻumaʻu at Kīlauea on the morning of June 10. Glow and scattered spattering at the north vent changed to more continuous spattering in the early morning hours, according to a status update from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
UH expert provides insights on Kīlauea’s towering lava fountains
The ongoing eruption at Kīlauea continues to spark interest with many flocking to the area to witness the on-and-off episodes and the lava fountaining associated with the volcanic activity.
Volcano Watch — What lurks beneath: learning from lava ooze outs
Dive beneath the solidified crust on the floor of the crater to explore the complicated mix of molten material below.
Lava fountains reach 500 feet in latest episode of Kīlauea eruption
Episode 21 of the ongoing Kīlauea eruption at Halemaʻumaʻu ended shortly after 8:30 on Sunday night, after about eight hours of sustained fountaining which began at 12:45 p.m. on May 11, 2025. The Halema’uma’u eruption is currently paused.
Episode 19 of the Kīlauea Volcano eruption ends after 8 hours of activity
The main fountaining of Episode 19 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea has ended after just 8 hours of activity.
New eruptive episode at Kīlauea produces lava fountains 650 feet high
The fountaining phase of the latest episode began at 3:20 a.m. this morning and lasted for 10 hours and 8 minutes.
UH: Kīlauea volcano ash prompts largest open ocean phytoplankton bloom
A rare and large summertime phytoplankton bloom in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre in summer 2018 was prompted by ash from Kīlauea falling on the ocean surface approximately 1,200 miles west of the volcano.
Episode 18 of the ongoing Kīlauea eruption is underway on Hawaiʻi Island
Episode 18 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 10:01 p.m. HST on April 16, 2025 when lava started overflowing from the north vent.
