Kilauea summit: 56th lava fountaining episode reached 660 feet and ended after nearly six hours

Episode 56 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kilauea in Hawaii ended at 6:01 p.m. after nearly six hours, staradvertiser.com reports, citing the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). The episode began at 12:10 p.m. staradvertiser.comstaradvertiser.comstaradvertiser.comOpen source ↗

As of 2:15 p.m., the fountain had reached about 660 feet, and the plume stretched to 18,000 feet above sea level, according to HVO. At the start of the episode the fountains were relatively low, about 100 feet, and HVO expected them to increase.

Most lava fountaining since Dec. 23, 2024 has lasted a day or less. As in the previous episodes, all eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaumau crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, HVO said.

Ash and gas dispersal

Tephra, small glassy volcanic fragments, falls most heavily within 3 miles of the vents. Lighter ash and Pele's hair may stay suspended at much greater distances. staradvertiser.comstaradvertiser.comstaradvertiser.comOpen source ↗ Surface winds were blowing from the northeast and upper-level winds from the east-southeast, so volcanic gas and material could drift between the southwest and northwest of Halemaumau.

The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement warning of light ashfall near and west of the volcano. According to the statement, web cams and radar data showed occasional small bursts of ash from Halemaumau. Low-level trade winds were expected to push the ash west, over the Kau District and Highway 11 west of the town of Volcano, and possibly as far southwest as Pahala.

Alert status and health notice

The volcano alert level remains at watch, and the aviation color code is orange.

The NWS urged people in the area to avoid excessive exposure to ashfall, which may irritate the eyes and cause respiratory problems. People with respiratory sensitivities, the service said, should take extra precaution to minimize exposure. staradvertiser.comstaradvertiser.comstaradvertiser.comOpen source ↗