December 6, 2025—Halemaʻumaʻu crater aerial overview

During Kīlauea summit eruption episode 38 on December 6, "tephra-nadoes" made a return, as seen to the left of the lava fountain in this photo. Swirling winds in the tephra fallout plume led to this short-lived twister, spotted by a field crew on the southern rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The location where V3cam was buried by the material falling out of the inclined south vent fountain is visible in the center of the image, as a small hill rising above the surrounding landscape. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.