Alert Level: WARNING, Color Code: RED
2023-01-06 06:09:52 UTC

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey
Thursday, January 5, 2023, 8:09 PM HST (Friday, January 6, 2023, 06:09 UTC)

KILAUEA (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: RED

The summit eruption of Kīlauea that began within Halemaʻumaʻu crater just after 4:30 p.m. HST today, January 5, 2023, continues at this time. All activity is confined to Kīlauea summit region, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. There are no indications of activity migrating out of the summit region.

Multiple minor fountains are active in the central eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor; the largest lava fountain is consistently about 10 meters (32 feet) high. Fountain bursts up to 30 meters (98 feet) high occurred around 7:45 p.m. and there were several bursts up to 50 meters (164 feet) high during the initial part of the eruption. Lava flows have inundated much of the crater floor (which is nearly 300 acres or 120 hectares). As of approximately 7:30 p.m. about 10 meters (32 feet) depth of new lava had been added to the crater floor.

Summit tilt switched from inflation to deflation around 5 p.m. HST. Following the eruption onset, summit earthquake activity greatly diminished and eruptive tremor (a signal associated with fluid movement) resumed. Volcanic gas emissions in the eruption area are elevated.

Kīlauea’s volcano alert level and aviation color code will remain at WARNING/RED as this eruption and associated hazards are evaluated overnight.  

The summit eruption of Kīlauea has not had an impact on Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa remains quiet.

HVO will continue to monitor this activity closely and report any significant changes in future notices.

HVO is in constant communication with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Alert Level: WATCH, Color Code: ORANGE
2023-01-16 19:00:46 UTC

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Monday, January 16, 2023, 9:00 AM HST (Monday, January 16, 2023, 19:00 UTC)

KILAUEA (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: The summit eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, continued over the past 24 hours. All recent eruptive activity has been confined to the crater. No significant changes have been observed at the summit or in either rift zone.

Halemaʻumaʻu Lava Lake Observations: Eruption of lava in the eastern portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor continued over the past 24 hours. Activity is concentrated in a large lava lake in the eastern half of the crater, as well as a smaller area of lava within the basin in the western half of the crater that was the focus of activity in 2021–2022. The active lava lake in the eastern half of the crater has one dominant fountain, measured at 6-7 yards (meters) high. The eastern lava lake had an area of approximately 30 acres (12 hectares) on January 10, and the surface area has fluctuated slightly over the past 24 hours with several small overflows from the perched lake. A live-stream video of the lava lake is available at: https://www.youtube.com/usgs/live.

Summit Observations: Over the past 24 hours, summit tiltmeters showed deflationary tilt that began around midnight and continues this morning. Volcanic tremor remains above background levels. A sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate of approximately 3,500 tonnes per day (t/d) was measured on January 9, 2023.

Rift Zone Observations: No unusual activity has been noted along the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone; low rates of ground deformation and seismicity continue along both. Measurements from continuous gas monitoring stations downwind of Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle East Rift Zone have been below detection limits for SO2, indicating that SO2 emissions from Puʻuʻōʻō are negligible.