In the early morning hours of June 1, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists reported to Uēkahuna to watch the beginning of Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 48. The fountaining episode began at 4:40 a.m. HST and by the time the scientists arrived around 5:00 a.m. HST, the Halema‘uma‘u north vent already hosted a lava fountain reaching over 330 feet (100 meters) high. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

This photo of the Halema‘uma‘u north vent lava fountain was captured shortly after sunrise on June 1, 2026, around the time that activity was peaking during Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 48. Preliminary estimates indicate that the lava fountain reached at least 500 feet (150 meters) in height during the episode. Most tephra was falling within the crater and immediately adjacent on the rim, but some lighter particles were lofted higher and greater distances downwind. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

This photo was taken from near the Ka‘ū Desert trailhead within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on June 1, 2026, during episode 48 of lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit. It shows the top of the north vent lava fountain on the skyline to the right and the volcanic plume rising above it. The Ka‘ū Desert Trailhead is about 5.7 miles (9.1 kilometers) west-southwest of Halema‘uma‘u. The fountaining was also audible at that location. USGS photo by N. Deligne.

Episode 48 of lava fountaining in the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea summit started on June 1, 2026, at 4:40 a.m. HST. This photo was taken shortly after 6 a.m. from Uēkahuna overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and shows the north vent lava fountain. As was the case during episodes 44, 45, 46, and 47, only north vent produced a lava fountain during episode 48. USGS photo by N. Deligne.

Lava fountains of episode 48 started at 4:40 a.m. HST from the north vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. Lava fountains have reached a maximum height of almost 650 ft (200 m) at their peak, shown here in a photo taken at 06:19 a.m. HST. USGS photo by L. Gallant. 

During episode 48 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea on June 1, 2026, the lava fountain from the north vent reached a maximum height of almost 650 ft (200 m) at its peak around 6:30 a.m. HST. This photo was taken at 8:00 a.m. HST, nearly an hour and a half later, and shows a fountain of around 500 ft (152.5 m). USGS photo by L. Gallant.

Episode 48 lava fountain from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu crater, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano, as viewed from near Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by M. Decker. 

About 5 miles (8 km) east northeast of the eruption location in Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea, ash and Pele's hair accumulated on the hood of a white vehicle during episode 48 of lava fountaining on June 1, 2026. Low-level winds from the northeast distributed most tephra to the southwest, but higher-level winds from the south distributed tephra to the north and east. USGS photo by D. Downs. 

Lava fountains of episode 48 started at 4:40 a.m. HST from the north vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. This video was taken just after 7 a.m. and shows most of the tephra fallout from the lava fountain landing back in the crater. USGS video by L. Gallant.

Episode 48 lava fountain from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu crater, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano, as viewed from near Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS video by M. Decker.