Kīlauea Eruption Episode Continues with Lava Fountains

The 16th episode of the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea’s Halemaʻumaʻu crater began late Monday night, featuring lava overflowing from the north vent. This episode was preceded by weak spattering that intensified into continuous low fountaining, with lava reaching heights of 15-30 feet, similar to previous episodes where fountains exceeded 1,000 feet. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) continues to monitor the situation closely, with expectations of high lava fountains within 24 hours. The volcanic activity is releasing significant amounts of sulfur dioxide and Pele’s hair, posing potential hazards to visitors and residents near Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Each episode since December 2024 has lasted between 13 hours to eight days, with brief pauses in between. The Kīlauea Volcano remains at a WATCH alert level and an ORANGE Aviation Color Code, indicating that all activity is confined within the park.