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November 30, 2022

Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone eruption continues. No property is at risk currently. There is a visible gas plume from the erupting fissure fountains and lava flows.

Mauna Loa update: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/volcano-updates

County of Hawaii Civil Defense Agency: https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-agency-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/

Color map of eruption
The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its third full day. At this time two fissures are active, sending lava flows primarily to the north-northeast. Webcam and satellite views overnight allowed USGS analysts to accurately map some of the most active flows, displayed in red here, along with older flows further uprift and in part of Mokuʻāweoweo Caldera. Elsewhere the progression of the flows is marked by dashed lines and points for the flow fronts, mapped by HVO field crews. As of 12:30 p.m. today, the most downslope flow is within 4 miles (6 kilometers) of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road).
Color photograph of lava flow
Aerial image of the distal end of a lava flow from Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone the morning of November 30, 2022. As of 12:30 HST p.m. on November 30, the flow front remained about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). USGS image by K. Mulliken. 
Color photograph of eruptive vent
Aerial image of fissure 4 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting the morning of November 30, 2022.  Fissure 4 is less active than fissure 3, but is generating lava flows moving toward the northeast and a small lobe moving to the east. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 
Color photograph of eruptive vent
Aerial image of fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting the morning of November 30, 2022.  Fissure 3 remains the dominant source of the largest lava flow being generated during the eruption. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 
This video, taken during an early morning overflight on 30 November 2022, shows fissure 3, the dominant source of activity. The lava fountains are 20-25 meters in height (65-82 feet) and are feeding a lava flow that is moving to the northeast at ~130 meters per hour (0.08 miles per hour).
A helicopter flies over the lava flow
A field crew was out documenting the location of the front of the flow closest to Saddle Road on Nov. 30, 2022, between 3:00 and 4:00 pm HST. This photo shows the front of the aʻa flow, with a helicopter for scale. The photo was taken looking southward from the Hilo-Kona Road, approximately 4 miles south of Saddle Road and one mile west of the Mauna Loa Observatory Road. At the time the photo was taken, the flow was approximately 500 m south of the Hilo-Kona Road; the flow crossed the Hilo-Kona Road overnight.
A helicopter flies over the lava flow
Photo showing the front of the aʻa flow closest to Saddle Road, taken on Nov. 30, around 3:30 pm HST. The photo was taken looking south to southeastward from the Hilo-Kona Road, approximately 4 miles south of Saddle Road and one mile west of the Mauna Loa Observatory Road. The white dome and other buildings of the Mauna Loa Observatory can be seen in left part of the image.
Front of a lava flow
Photo showing the front of the aʻa flow closest to Saddle Road, taken on Nov. 30, around 3:30 pm HST. The photo was taken looking south to southeastward from the Hilo-Kona Road, approximately 4 miles south of Saddle Road and one mile west of the Mauna Loa Observatory Road. The white dome and other buildings of the Mauna Loa Observatory can be seen in left part of the image.
vertical plume of smoke coming out of lava fountain
Fissure 3 of the Northeast Rift Zone Mauna Loa eruption with a plume of volcanic gases and fine volcanic ash and Pele's hair being wafted in a near vertical plume. Taken at about 7:15 AM on November 30, 2022.
vertical plume of smoke coming out of lava fountain
Photograph of a high-definition video camera filming fissure 3. Field crews are out today monitoring the eruption of Mauna Loa. Mauna Kea is in the distance behind the fountaining fissure. Taken at about 7:15 AM on November 30, 2022.    

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