The eruption within Kīlauea’s summit caldera that began yesterday afternoon continues, with eruptive activity confined to the downdropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory (HVO) is lowering Kīlauea’s volcano alert level from WARNING to WATCH because the style of eruption and fissure location have stabilized, the initial extremely high effusion rates have declined, and no infrastructure is threatened. Associated hazards are confined to the closed area established by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
HVO is lowering Kīlauea’s aviation color code from RED to ORANGE because there is currently no threat of significant volcanic ash emission into the atmosphere outside of the hazardous closed area within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The eruption plume, composed largely of sulfur dioxide and minor volcanic particles, continues to rise to the base of the inversion level at about 8,000-10,000 feet (2,400-3,000 meters) above sea level. The plume concentration has decreased some due to the drop in effusion rate, but still remains high. Hazards associated with the eruption are limited and are described below.
Kīlauea’s summit eruption is expected to continue and remain confined to Kīlauea caldera within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. HVO does not see any indication of activity migrating elsewhere on Kīlauea volcano and expects the eruption to remain confined to the summit region.
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 as this situation evolves. The activity is confined entirely within the park.
For more information about the meaning of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes, see https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes