Kilauea's longest pause ended with a six-hour lava burst and a 720-foot fountain
Kilauea's 55th eruptive episode began after its longest pause yet. Lava fountaining lasted nearly six hours inside Halemaumau crater.
After weeks of uncertainty, Kilauea is erupting again. Hawaii's volcano entered its 55th eruptive episode early Saturday, ending what scientists described as the longest pause between episodes in the current eruption cycle.
Scientists said the latest activity began at 3:19 a.m. local time in Halemaumau crater at the summit of Kilauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The on-and-off eruption has been running since Dec. 23, 2024, and the previous high-fountaining episode ended Aug. 25.
Kilauea, considered one of the world's most active volcanoes, had followed a fairly regular pattern before this break. Scientists said magma had been collecting in a shallow reservoir beneath Halemaumau, with each eruptive episode releasing pressure before the reservoir refilled. This time, though, swarms of shallow earthquakes, a shallow magma intrusion in late September and early October, and new cracks on the caldera floor made it harder to predict exactly when the next episode would start. In mid-September, several new vents near the northwest wall of Halemaumau also produced small lava flows without high fountaining.
In the post below, the USGS said a north vent fountain had grown to about 250 feet and was feeding a broad sheet of lava into Halemaumau crater.
Embedded X post:
“Kilauea Message 2026-10-17 04:21:15 HST. The north vent fountain has grown to about 250 feet (80 m) high and is at least as wide. The fountain is feeding a broad sheet of lava into Halema'uma'u crater. Wind is from the northeast and tephra is within the closed area of HVNP.”
The eruption stayed confined to the summit crater. Officials said all eruptive vents and lava flows remained within Halemaumau, as with the previous 54 fountaining episodes.
The fountaining then stopped abruptly at 9:03 a.m. after nearly six hours, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists. They said a large lava fountain from the north vent reached a maximum height of 720 feet by about 5 a.m. The plume rose to about 25,000 feet above sea level, while radar showed significant tephra in the plume up to only 8,000 feet above sea level.
Scientists said tephra from volcanic ash clouds fell mostly within 3 miles of the vents, while lighter ash and Pele's hair may stay suspended over greater distances. Volcanic gas can affect people downwind, especially people with respiratory issues or other sensitive populations. The Halemaumau Trail and parts of Byron Ledge Trail are temporarily closed because of increased seismic activity earlier this month. Scientists also said fountaining is unlikely to return to the crater for the next few weeks.
