Kilauea Volcano Eruption Ends After Record 1,500-Foot Lava Fountains

Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island exhibited a spectacular eruption during Episode 35, featuring record-setting lava fountains reaching nearly 1,500 feet from the south vent and 1,100 feet from the north vent, the highest seen in the ongoing eruption that began in December 2024. The episode lasted approximately 7.5 hours, producing an estimated 13 million cubic yards of lava that covered about two-thirds of the crater floor, with volcanic gas emissions returning near normal levels afterward. Elevated gas levels and tephra, consisting of fine glass particles, affected areas downwind including Highway 11 and parts of Kaʻū, prompting health advisories for residents to limit exposure. The lava fountains were visible from distant locations such as Hilo, and summit inflation has resumed post-eruption, suggesting the likelihood of additional eruptive episodes in the coming weeks. This eruption is characterized by episodic lava fountaining not seen since the early 1980s, with ongoing slow lava flow movement and remobilization of tephra on the crater slopes. Scientists continue to monitor the volcano closely as activity persists.