Kilauea - Volcano Messages
This page displays the latest volcano observatory short messages for Kīlauea volcano. These short messages are quick status updates published on our website, social media, RSS and JSON. They supplement more detailed official products published in the Volcano Notification Service.
Filter Total Items: 20
Kilauea Message 2026-05-15 00:37:43 HST
Lava fountaining episode 47 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended abruptly at 12:27 a.m. HST on May 15. USGS is dropping the Volcano Alert Level from WATCH to ADVISORY and the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to YELLOW.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-15 00:02:10 HST
North fountain continues to drop and is less than 300 feet (90 meters) high. The UWD tiltmeter recorded about 15 microradians of deflation, about equal to the amount of inflation.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 23:00:44 HST
North fountain heights are gradually dropping. One hour ago fountains were about 500 feet (150 meters) high and now they are about 400 feet (120 meters) high. Lava flows have covered about one third of the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 18:51:56 HST
North vent fountain has dropped to 580 feet (180 meters). Some fine ash and Pele's hair was reported by field crews in Mauna Loa estates about 4.5 miles east-northeast of the vent with very sparse fine ashfall in Volcano.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 17:43:45 HST
North vent fountain remains about 600 feet (190 meters) high. Some small tephra less than 1 inch diameter have been reported falling occasionally around the summit of Kīlauea within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 17:23:00 HST
North vent fountains are now reaching 650 feet (200 meters) high with tephra being carried to the southwest at lower elevations. The top of the plume cloud has reached 20,000 feet a.s.l. and is moving to the northeast above 15,000 feet.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 16:42:41 HST
North fountains are now about 500 feet (150 meters) and leaning toward the north. Small south vent fountains (under 50 feet or 15 meters) began around 4:30 pm HST.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 16:18:09 HST
North vent fountains have grown to over 300 feet high (100 meters) and are broad. Approximate effusion rate is 120-240 cubic yards per second. The top of the convective plume cloud is at 13,000 feet and is visible from Mauna Loa.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 16:03:54 HST
North vent fountains are beginning to grow rapidly have reached about 200 feet (60 meters) at 4 pm HST. Tremor is also increasing rapidly and tilt dropping indicating peak fountains should occur in the next 30-60 minutes.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 15:33:44 HST
North vent fountains have been continuous since 3 pm HST and have grown to about 65 feet (20 meters) high. Periodic overflows continue from the south vent. Tremor and tilt show episode 47 underway as of 3:27 pm.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 15:12:01 HST
Vigorous dome fountains began from the north vent at 3 pm HST. This appears to be a prelude to the start of episode 47 but tremor remains low at this time.
Kilauea Message 2026-05-14 14:46:51 HST
The Halemaʻumaʻu north vent is reawakening after slowly dribbling lava most of the day. V1cam appears to show lava effusing from the western of two closely spaced vent openings, then it descending into the eastern opening.
