Images

Fallout from Kīlauea episode 43 is continuing to be cleared as of the morning of March 11, 2026. This photo shows a pile of tephra that was cleared from a roadway in Kilauea Military Camp, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where the fallout continuously covered the ground. USGS photo. 

Heavy rainfall the evening of March 10-11 eroded pathways in the tephra deposit from Kīlauea episode 43 lava fountaining. This photo was taken near the Volcano Golf Course and shows the tephra fallout deposit and underlying road. USGS photo. 

In Volcano Village, located northeast of the eruptive vents at the summit of Kīlauea, fallout from episode 43 was less extensive than the areas to the west. This photograph shows a parking area that nearly continuously covered with tephra particles ranging up to a couple inches in diameter. USGS photo. 

Highway 11 near Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was affected by fallout from episode 43 lava fountains at the summit of Kīlauea on March 10, 2026. The Highway, which was nearly continuously covered with tephra, was closed on March 10 as material was cleared using heavy equipment.

The Volcano Golf Course, located north-northeast of the eruptive vents at the summit of Kīlauea received fallout from episode 43 lava fountains that nearly continuously covered the ground with tephra particles up to several inches in diameter. USGS photo. 

Tephra fallout from Kīlauea episode 43 lava fountaining accumulated on a water tank cover in Volcano Village, photographed on March 11, 2026. USGS photo. 

Ash fallout from Kīlauea summit lava fountaining episode 43 in Hilo just before 3 p.m. HST on March 10, 2026. USGS photo. 

Nearly 5 hours into episode 43 of the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea, the lawn at Kīlauea Military Camp was covered with about an inch of tephra (2 to 3 cm). The underlying grass was barely visible. The deposit included reticulite bombs (large foamy tephra clasts) mixed in with smaller denser lapilli tephra. USGS photo by N. Deligne. 

This building within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National park is nearly 3 miles (4.7 km) east-northeast of north and south vents of the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea volcano. Tephra from episode 41 and 43 lava fountains of the ongoing Kīlauea eruption was deposited on this building. The upper portion of the roof is steeper and so falling tephra slide down it.

This photo shows the gap between the south (left) and north (right) lava fountains on March 10, 2026, as well as the lava channels that transport lava from the vent to the eastern crater floor. These fountains were active during episode 43 at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

The onset of episode 43 fountaining of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea occurred at 9:17 a.m. HST on March 10, 2026, about an hour after the start of precursory eruptions at 8:20 a.m. HST. The start of episode 43 was marked by a sharp increase in tremor and deflationary tilt recorded at the Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD).

Episode 43 at the summit of Kīlauea was comparable in size to episodes 41 and 42, but due to light winds it produced tephra fallout similar to but not as great as episode 41.

This photo shows the base of the north fountain, during episode 43 at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava falls around the vent and then pours into a series of lava channels that transport lava towards the east end of the crater. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Episode 43 of the Kīlauea summit eruption ended after about 9 hours with both the north and south vents active. The highest peak or instantaneous effusion rate of 1000 cubic yards (800 cubic meters) per second occurred around 10:30 a.m. HST on March 10. Episode 43 ended with an average effusion rate of 400 cubic yards per second (300 cubic meters per second).

The dual fountains that erupted during Kīlauea summit eruption episode 43 on March 10, 2026, produced significant heat and ash, creating an eruption plume. The plume reached 10,000 feet (3050 meters) above sea level at 10:10 a.m. HST, over 20,000 feet (6100 meters) by 11:30 a.m. HST, and over 25,000 feet (7600 meters) above sea level by 10:50 a.m. HST.

The V3cam is situated on the south rim of the caldera, at the summit of Kīlauea, and provides good views of the two separate fountains that have been active during the ongoing episodic eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu. This photo shows episode 43 lava fountaining activity with the south (left) and north (right) fountains active. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

The top portion of the south lava fountain during episode 43 lava fountaining activity at the summit of Kīlauea, showing the range of sizes of clasts the separate out from the fountain. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Activity during the episode 43 lava fountains at the summit of Kīlauea, from the south rim of the crater. This area provided clear views of the north and south fountains, and the lava channels that transported lava from the vent into the eastern portion of the crater floor. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

This photo was taken from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and shows the south and north fountains active during episode 43 at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

This car was parked within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, nearly 3 miles (4.7 km) east-northeast of north and south vents of the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea volcano. The photo shows about 7 hours of tephra fall accumulation from episode 43.

Microscopic images of Pele's hair and ash deposited in Hilo during Kīlauea's episode 43 fountains on March 10, 2026. The area in the center shows a bubble wall that was cooled and preserved. UHH/USGS photo by L. Gallant.