Lava geysers hit new heights during Episode 35 of Kīlauea eruption; one fountains to nearly 1,500 feet

Kīlauea didn’t just wake up and have another eruptive episode tonight, it decided to set records.

The Big Island volcano, for the second time in a row, is displaying continuous twin lava fountains from the north and south vents inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the summit caldera within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, which started within an hour after Episode 35 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption began at 8:05 p.m. today at the north vent.

The south vent lava geyser at 10 p.m. was just less than 1,500 feet high and its sister to the north was skyrocketing to about 1,100 feet.

“These would be the highest single fountain and highest pair of fountains seen during this eruption,” said Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in a status update at 10:05 p.m. Friday. “Sustained high fountains continue from both vents at this time.”

The fountains rapidly grew to about 500 feet when the south vent began erupting at 8:50 p.m. Within 20 minutes later, it equaled the north vent’s size.

Both vents continued to increase in height since, and by 9:30 p.m. had exceeded 1,000 feet.

The massive molten rock geysers have caused elevated gas levels. Tephra — fine volcanic material including Pele’s hair which is a glassy substance — is occurring in the area downwind from the eruption.

That can irritate skin and eyes.

“Avoid the area if you are sensitive to respiratory condition,” said Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense in a message at 10:45 p.m. Friday. “Take precautions to limit your exposure.”

Civil Defense also reported tephra to be falling on Highway 11 southwest of the vents.

Fine ash and Peleʻs hair can be carried long distances and can impact a broad area of Kaʻū, along the southern and southwestern parts of Mauna Loa.

The plume of gas above the fountains extends to more than 16,000 feet above ground level.

Visit the Hawai‘i County Hazard Impact Map for additional information.

The summit had deflated about 7 microradians in about 2 hours, as measured by the Uēkahuna tiltmeter located near the eruptive site, by the time Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued its most recent status report.

That rapid deflation and very high output from both vents suggest this could be another relatively short episode, lasting less than 6 to 8 hours — similar to Episode 34.

Timeline of eruptive episodes since the ongoing eruption began Dec. 23, 2024, can be found on the U.S. Geological Survey website.

All eruptive activity remains confined to Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

A Volcano Activity Notice will be issued when sustained high lava fountaining ends, marking the end of Episode 35.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.