Images

This thermal map shows the temperature distribution on the crater floor at the summit of Kīlauea. The ongoing eruption has covered the crater floor in successive layers of new lava flows. This thermal map shows that the flows that erupted during episode 33 (September 19) remain warm, and are visible along the north and south margins of the crater.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists took this oblique angle view of north (center) and south vents (to the right and closer to top of photo) during a Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight on September 24. The brown sand-like material that covers the right and top parts of the photo are tephra erupted during episode 33.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists did not see any lava at the bottom of north (bottom right) or south (center) vents during a Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight on September 24. This photo shows the western wall of Halema‘uma‘u, and much of the slope is covered in brown tephra erupted during episode 33 on September 19. USGS photo by N.

On September 24, 2025, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist serviced a monitoring station at Kīlauea volcano. This site is only accessible by helicopter due to the 2018 summit caldera collapse—the road in the photo is an isolated portion of the old Crater Rim Drive, over 100 feet below the current crater rim.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's helicopter overflight on September 24 provided aerial views of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) from the east looking west. The vents of the eruption that started on December 23, 2024 are degassing on the western side of Halema‘uma‘u crater. Mauna Loa can be seen in the background. USGS photo by N. Deligne.

Episode 33 lava fountain from the north vent, as seen from Volcano House, on the morning of September 19, 2025, at approximately 7:15 am. The lava fountain was approximately 300–400 feet (90–120 meters). Photo by USGS geologist D. Downs.

The episode 33 lava fountain from the north vent, at the summit of Kīlauea, is seen beyond the collapsed end of Crater Rim Drive. This portion of Crater Rim Drive was destroyed during the 2018 summit collapse events, and is closed to the public. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

HVO geologists collect video and make visual observations of the episode 33 lava fountain, at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Photo of the lava fountain peeking over the crater rim and the gas plume in white lofting to the southwest with the trade winds. Photo by USGS geologist D. Downs.

A lava bomb from the north vent above the crater rim that was found not long after it landed and cooled. As the molten bombs fly through the air, they cool and form a glassy crust with the interior full of vesicles. Most shatter into many pieces upon impact with the ground, but on rare occasions some stay mostly intact.

HVO geologists make an initial assessment of the episode 33 lava fountain from the collapsed end of Crater Rim Drive, at the summit of Kīlauea. This portion of Crater Rim Drive was destroyed during the 2018 summit collapse events, and is closed to the public. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Activity at the Halema‘uma‘u summit eruption is increasing prior to episode 33. North vent is experiencing gas pistoning cycles (lava fills vent, overflows, drains). Lava flows from north vent are contained to a single dominant channel exiting the cone. North vent is approximately 20 m (65 feet) from base of the vent to the perched lava pond.

At 8:38 a.m. HST on September 17, the Halema‘uma‘u north vent overflowed for the first time in advance of Kīlauea summit eruptive episode 33.

Cyclic rising and falling of the lava pond at the Halema‘uma‘u north vent was indicative of ongoing gas pistoning during the morning of September 17. Seismometers have tracked this gas pistoning since shortly after the end of Kīlauea summit eruptive episode 32 on September 2, but only in the past couple days has lava risen high enough for the cycles to be visible.

This reference map depicts the volcanoes of the Manuʻa Islands, American Samoa, which are monitored by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater that began on December 23, 2024. As of this posting on September 12, 2025, the eruption has had thirty-two episodes, with the most recent occurring on September 2.

This view is taken from the flank of the new tephra mound at Kīlauea summit, over Crater Rim Drive (closed to the public) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The tire tracks of the vehicle mark the path of Crater Rim Drive.

This view is from the south rim of the summit caldera on Kīlauea and shows the vent complex formed during the ongoing eruption. The vent area consists of overlapping lobes of spatter-fed flows, layers of tephra, and thin fluid lava flows.

Tephra is the material erupted that travels through the air before falling on the ground. During the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea, tephra from each episode of lava fountaining tells us about the magma storage conditions leading to the eruption.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the caldera rim at Kīlauea summit to assess the aftermath of episode 32 lava fountaining. The vent was quiet, with no audible sounds, and a thick outgassing plume rose from the vents. The broad lava channel that was fed from episode 32 lava fountaining can be seen here extending to the left side of the image.

This photo shows part of the western Ofu coastline and several small islands west of Ofu Island, American Samoa. These islands are considered part of Ofu-Olosega volcano in the Manuʻa Islands.