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Kilauea summit eruption series 2026 (episode 52)

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2026-07-29 21:04 UTC → 2026-07-30 16:28 UTC · added removed

Kilauea summit eruption series 2026 (episode 52)

From late April through mid‑July 2026 Kīlauea’s summit crater experienced produced a rapid series of high‑energy eruptions, climaxing with episode 51 on 15 July. The north vent produced generated a 950‑ft lava fountain and fountain, an 18,000‑ft plume, effusing 370‑400 cu yd s⁻¹ and depositing deposited about 6.6 million cu yd of lava across half of the crater floor. Light tephra and Pele’s hair fell on visitors at the Uēkahuna overlook, visitors, while the south vent emitted flames and gas jets. Seismic activity remained low, limited to a shallow magnitude‑2 quake. On 16 July a A USGS helicopter overflight on 16 July documented extensive fresh lava resurfacing most of the western crater floor, including remnants of the 2018 Crater Rim Drive collapse, floor and a thin tephra layer draped across the interior. Incandescence persisted in the north vent eight hours after fountaining ceased. Spectroscopic measurements recorded sulfur‑dioxide emissions, and imagery captured the historic 1971 spatter cone on the Southwest Rift Zone. USGS’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory USGS noted that Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since December 2024 continued episodic activity and remains at an advisory alert level. Forecast models indicated forecast a new lava‑fountaining fountaining episode could begin between 25 July and 29 July, with no unusual activity observed along the East or Southwest rift zones. Concurrently, an annual Concurrent GPS survey of nearby Mauna Loa surveys showed slow summit inflation and outward movement of benchmarks, while the flanks shift slightly downward (≈2.9 inches yr⁻¹). Seismic activity and gas emissions at both volcanoes remain low, and an eruption at nearby Mauna Loa is not and slight flank subsidence, with no eruption expected in the near term. On 23 July the Observatory reiterated night of 28‑29 July a new eruptive episode (episode 52) began at the ongoing episodic activity north vent. A 150‑m (≈500‑ft) lava fountain rose for about 7.5 hours, expelling roughly 4.7 million m³ of lava and covering about half of the forecast window for Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. An ash‑and‑gas plume reached ~5.8 km before descending to ~3 km. The USGS raised the volcano‑alert level from yellow to orange; no lava reached populated areas and no injuries were reported. Low‑magnitude tremors and renewed fountaining, while confirming continued slow summit uplift at magma accumulation were recorded, indicating a possible episode 53 in the coming days. Monitoring of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa and unchanged flank subsidence. continues.

Versions

  1. 2026-07-30 16:28 UTC Kilauea summit eruption series 2026 (episode 52)
  2. 2026-07-29 21:04 UTC Kilauea summit eruption series 2026

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