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Observatory Messages

This page displays the latest volcano observatory short messages issued by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. 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: 740
Kilauea Message 2026-01-12 08:29:10 HST
North vent fountains are picking up, now about 50-70 feet (15-20 meters) high. This appears to be a prelude to the start of episode 40 fountains.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-12 07:44:24 HST
Beautiful arcuate spatter fountain 15-30 feet (5-10 meters) high feeding a flow from the north vent. The south vent continues to erupt intermittently with classic dome fountains 10-15 foot (3-5 meter) feeding overflows.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-11 20:23:56 HST
Intermittent precursory overflows continue from both vents and extend onto the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. There is almost no wind at the summit so camera views can be partially or totally blocked by volcanic gases near the vent.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-11 09:54:05 HST
The north vent began vigorously overflowing at about 9:30 am HST after being quiet all morning. The fountaining is feeding a flow that extends nearly 3000 feet (1 km) into the center of Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-10 16:43:01 HST
The south vent drained back at 4:35 pm HST leaving only the north vent active. A new lava dome quickly rose within the south vent and vigorous overflows resumed at 4:38 followed by another drainback.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-10 16:36:12 HST
South vent dome fountain still around 30-40 feet (15 meters) high but about twice that in width as lava has completely buried the south cone. Tremor remains constant but UWD tilt is beginning to drop rapidly.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-10 16:25:37 HST
Major overflow from the south vent began at 4:21 pm HST.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-10 16:25:08 HST
Winds at the summit of Kīlauea remain light and variable making it difficult to predict how the eruption plume will behave if episode 40 high fountains begin in these conditions.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-10 15:15:37 HST
Precursory fountaining continues from the north vent and, with short pauses, from the south vent. Overflows from both vents are feeding a lava flow about 250-500 ft (75 m) wide that extends over a half a mile (1 km) into the crater.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-10 12:01:44 HST
Since 7 a.m. HST tremor has remained relatively constant at elevated levels. Tilt recorded on the UWD tiltmeter had been going down slowly since the south vent reactivated this morning but started to go up slowly around 10:00 a.m. HST.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-10 11:57:20 HST
Dome fountains about 50 feet (12 m) high continue to feed lava flows from both the north and south vents. The south vent flows are intermittent with short 5-10 minute breaks during drainback (drops 25 ft or 8 m) and refilling of the vent.
Kilauea Message 2026-01-10 07:24:14 HST
Both the north and south vents have been intermittently fountaining since about 7 am HST. The fountains are getting more vigorous indicating that more gas rich magma is involved. Tremor has increased but tilt remains flat at this time.
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