UPDATE: Episode 26 lava fountains of ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption reach dizzying heights

Update at 2:53 p.m. June 20, 2025: Lava fountains peaked at dizzying heights of well more than 1,000 feet during the early morning today (June 20) after the onset at 2 a.m. of the latest eruptive episode of the ongoing summit eruption inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano.

But just about 8 hours after sustained fountaining and lava flows onto the crater floor within Kaluapele, the volcano’s summit caldera, started Friday from the north vent in the southwest portion of the crater, Episode 26 came to an abrupt end at 10:25 a.m., when continuous activity stopped at the south vent.

The north vent stopped erupting nearly 20 minutes earlier at 10:07 a.m.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported at 10:58 a.m. today in its Volcanic Activity Notice that volcanic gas emissions have greatly decreased.

Lava flows from Episode 26 on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu within the southern part of Kaluapele will continue to exhibit slow movement and incandescence as they cool and solidify during the coming days.

No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. All eruptive activity is confined within the summit area and inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code remain at Watch and Orange, respetively.

Hazard analysis as of 10:58 a.m. June 20

• General hazards: Pele’s hair and tephra may affect areas downwind of eruptive vents.
• Volcanic gas: Usually 1,200-1,500 tonnes/day Sulfur dioxide between eruptive episodes. Sulfur dioxide and vog can cause respiratory and other problems at high concentrations.
• Lava flow within the summit caldera: Might continue to exhibit slow movement or incandescence as flows cool and solidify during the coming days.

Visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website for additional discussion about Kīlauea hazards.

The observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue a Volcanic Activity Notice/Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation at the start of the next eruptive episode and, if possible, also at the onset of low-level precursory activity.

Regular daily Kīlauea updates also are published each morning on the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website.

Original post at 4:15 a.m. June 20, 2025: Episode 26 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption of the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano began at about 1:40 a.m. today (June 20), with lava fountains and flows erupting from the north vent in the southwest portion of the crater within Kaluapele, the summit caldera.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that fountains were observed already reaching heights of more than 1,000 feet by 2:10 a.m., just 30 minutes after sustained fountaining began.

“Happening now. I can’t believe I caught this on video! I got the eruption changing!” exclaimed Kelli Veras in a Facebook reel posted at 2:03 a.m. today, in which you not only can see the massive lava fountain at the volcano’s summit but hear the roaring of the molten rock as it is ejected from the earth. “Look at the surge 12 seconds in. This thing is huge. OMG.”

The National Weather Service in Honolulu said winds are blowing from the north, which suggests volcanic gas emissions and tephra could be distributed south of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

Forecasters issued a special weather statement as a result of ashfall likely from the massive lava ejections.

Local doppler radar data indicated at about 1:30 a.m. today that bursts of volcanic ash were erupting up to 20,000 feet at Halemaʻumaʻu. Low level trade winds are expected to push the ash toward the west-southwest, and any ash fallout will likely occur over portions of Kaʻū and Highway 11, southwest to west of Volcano.

That might include the communities of Pāhala and Wood Valley.

Trade winds are spreading this ash in the same direction, and repeated eruptions could lead to a heavier buildup of ash in the area. Additionally, any ash deposited will be picked up off the ground by the wind, contributing to dusty conditions.

The National Weather Service advises the public to avoid excessive exposure to volcanic ash, which is an eye and respiratory irritant. Those with respiratory sensitivities should take extra precaution to minimize exposure.

Visit the Hawaiʻi Interagency Vog Information Dashboard for health and safety recommendations.

Episode 26 was preceded by small, sporadic spattering and lava overflows from the north vent that began at about 11:26 p.m. Thursday (June 19) and continued to increase in intensity until 1:40 a.m. today, when sustained fountaining began.

Fountains from north vent are also feeding a lava flow onto the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater floor.

Inflationary tilt reached just more than 15.3 microradians since the end of Episode 25 the evening of June 11.

Seismic tremor began increasing and tilt at the summit switched from inflation to deflation at about the same time lava fountaining increased in intensity.

Most episodes of sustained lava fountaining since the ongoing episodic eruption started Dec. 23, 2024, have continued for about a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting generally at least several days.

No changes have been detected in Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will notify the public when sustained lava fountaining ceases and the eruption is paused, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update.

Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code remain at Watch and Orange, respectively.

All current and recent activity is confined within the summit caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Additional observations as of 2:10 a.m. June 20:

• Volcanic cloud height: About 14,800 feet.
• Other volcanic cloud information: Sulfur dioxide emission rate is typically 50,000 tonnes/day during eruptive episode.

Hazard analysis as of 2:10 a.m. June 20:

• General hazards: Pele’s hair, tephra and volcanic gas may impact downwind areas.
• Ash cloud: Plume in past episodes has reached up to 20,000 feet above ground level.
• Ashfall: Small volcanic particles could impact downwind areas.
• Volcanic gas: Typically 50,000 tonnes/day during sustained lava fountaining episodes.

Visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website for additional information about Kīlauea hazards.

Regular Kīlauea daily updates also are posted on the observatory’s website.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.