HILO, HAWAI‘I — The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) reports a significant intensification of the ongoing summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano. As of 6:00 p.m. on December 28, 2024, the eruption transitioned from sluggish lava flows to more vigorous lava fountaining within Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Eruption Details
- Start of Activity: Lava began erupting sluggishly from vents on Thursday, December 26, marking the third phase of the current summit eruption. Initial flows moved slowly and covered limited areas near the northern vents.
- Transition to Fountaining: Around 5:15 p.m. on December 28, lava fountaining became more continuous at the southern active vent, with spatter heights reaching 60-100 feet (20-30 meters). By 6:00 p.m., approximately 20% of the crater floor was covered with fresh lava.
- Volcanic Inflation: Inflation beneath Halemaʻumaʻu continued until the afternoon, followed by deflation beginning around 1:00 p.m. Tremor levels have gradually increased but remain lower than during the first two eruptive episodes.
Potential Developments
If lava fountaining persists, spatter heights could increase as more gas-rich magma reaches the surface. Previous episodes have produced fountains exceeding 200 feet (70 meters) and lasting up to 24 hours. HVO cautions that the duration and intensity of the fountaining remain uncertain.
Monitoring and Public Information
HVO continues to monitor the eruption closely and is in communication with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency. All current activity remains confined to the park.
For visitors:
- Park updates can be found on the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park website.
- A live stream of the summit eruption is available on the USGS YouTube channel.
Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH, with the Aviation Color Code set at ORANGE. No activity has been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
HVO plans to issue another update on Sunday morning unless significant changes occur overnight.