Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Kīlauea images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
Lava fountaining from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park during episode 55 on October 17, 2026. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park just before sunrise. USGU photo by K. Van Helden.
Lava fountaining from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park during episode 55 on October 17, 2026. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park just before sunrise. USGU photo by K. Van Helden.
Photo from the Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as the sun was rising on a clear day with episode 55 lava fountaining having started about 3 hours earlier. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Photo from the Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as the sun was rising on a clear day with episode 55 lava fountaining having started about 3 hours earlier. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 a.m. HST on October 17, 2026. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna approximately 3 hours later at 6:15 am when the sun was rising, illuminating the volcanic plume above the north vent lava fountain. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 a.m. HST on October 17, 2026. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna approximately 3 hours later at 6:15 am when the sun was rising, illuminating the volcanic plume above the north vent lava fountain. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
This photo shows the north vent lava fountaining with a small dust (tephra) devil on the side of tephra hill during episode 55 of lava fountaining. Episode 55 fountaining in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano began on October 17, 2026, at 3:19 a.m. HST. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGU photo by K.
This photo shows the north vent lava fountaining with a small dust (tephra) devil on the side of tephra hill during episode 55 of lava fountaining. Episode 55 fountaining in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano began on October 17, 2026, at 3:19 a.m. HST. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGU photo by K.
Episode 55 lava fountain and gas and tephra plume at about 7:00 am on the morning of October 17, 2026. The lava fountain was about 400 feet (120 m) high at this point. The sun was illuminating the plume as it drifted to the southwest over the Kaʻū Desert. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Episode 55 lava fountain and gas and tephra plume at about 7:00 am on the morning of October 17, 2026. The lava fountain was about 400 feet (120 m) high at this point. The sun was illuminating the plume as it drifted to the southwest over the Kaʻū Desert. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 a.m. HST on October 17, 2026. Lava fountained from the north vent, with the maximum height of just over 700 feet (220 m) reached by 5:00 a.m. HST. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 a.m. HST on October 17, 2026. Lava fountained from the north vent, with the maximum height of just over 700 feet (220 m) reached by 5:00 a.m. HST. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 a.m. HST on October 17, 2026. This view, taken just before 6 a.m. HST, shows the Kīlauea summit eruptive plume, with the silhouette of Mauna Loa. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 a.m. HST on October 17, 2026. This view, taken just before 6 a.m. HST, shows the Kīlauea summit eruptive plume, with the silhouette of Mauna Loa. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
North vent lava fountain in HALEMA’UMA’U at the summit of Kīlauea volcano during episode 55 on October 17, 2026. Lava fountaining reached a maximum height of 720 feet (220m) by 5:00 a.m. HST. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by B. Wenzel.
North vent lava fountain in HALEMA’UMA’U at the summit of Kīlauea volcano during episode 55 on October 17, 2026. Lava fountaining reached a maximum height of 720 feet (220m) by 5:00 a.m. HST. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by B. Wenzel.
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 6 hours on October 17, 2026. The plume from this eruption reached about 25,000 feet (7,600 meters) above sea level. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by B. Wenzel.
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 6 hours on October 17, 2026. The plume from this eruption reached about 25,000 feet (7,600 meters) above sea level. This photo was taken from Uēkahuna in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by B. Wenzel.
Episode 55 lava fountaining started within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea during the early morning hours of October 17, 2026. The weather was clear providing good views of the lava fountaining and gas and tephra plume. This photo was taken at about 5:50 a.m. HST with the lava fountain at nearly 600 ft (180 m) tall. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Episode 55 lava fountaining started within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea during the early morning hours of October 17, 2026. The weather was clear providing good views of the lava fountaining and gas and tephra plume. This photo was taken at about 5:50 a.m. HST with the lava fountain at nearly 600 ft (180 m) tall. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Episode 55 lava fountaining within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea on the morning of October 17, 2026. The sun illuminated the volcanic plume in such a way as to light it up with pink and yellow hues. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Episode 55 lava fountaining within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea on the morning of October 17, 2026. The sun illuminated the volcanic plume in such a way as to light it up with pink and yellow hues. USGS photo by D. Downs.
A) COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG) interferogram showing deformation (or lack of it) of the ground surface around the summit of Kīlauea volcano from September 11–27, 2026. The symbol in the upper-left corner shows the satellite’s flight direction with an arrow and its viewing direction with a bar.
A) COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG) interferogram showing deformation (or lack of it) of the ground surface around the summit of Kīlauea volcano from September 11–27, 2026. The symbol in the upper-left corner shows the satellite’s flight direction with an arrow and its viewing direction with a bar.
Photo compilation of lava fountaining episodes 1–54 at the summit of Kīlauea, including webcam imagery and photos taken by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists on the ground and during helicopter overflights. In all photos except for episode 7, the south vent is on the left and the north vent is on the right.
Photo compilation of lava fountaining episodes 1–54 at the summit of Kīlauea, including webcam imagery and photos taken by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists on the ground and during helicopter overflights. In all photos except for episode 7, the south vent is on the left and the north vent is on the right.
The vent complex in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea that has been erupting episodically since December 2024 often features flames visibly emanating from the vents at night. These flames are thought to be the result of burning hydrogen gas, with the vent geometry being an important factor to allow the hydrogen gas to be efficiently ignited.
The vent complex in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea that has been erupting episodically since December 2024 often features flames visibly emanating from the vents at night. These flames are thought to be the result of burning hydrogen gas, with the vent geometry being an important factor to allow the hydrogen gas to be efficiently ignited.
The vent complex in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea that has been erupting episodically since December 2024 often features flames visibly emanating from the vents at night. These flames are thought to be the result of burning hydrogen gas. The temperature at which hydrogen ignites in air depends on its concentration.
The vent complex in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea that has been erupting episodically since December 2024 often features flames visibly emanating from the vents at night. These flames are thought to be the result of burning hydrogen gas. The temperature at which hydrogen ignites in air depends on its concentration.
COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG) interferogram showing deformation of the ground surface around the summit of Kīlauea volcano from September 24 to October 2, 2026. Blue circles mark earthquakes recorded during this period, with larger circles representing stronger earthquakes. Most of the earthquakes occurred between September 30 and October 1, 2026.
COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG) interferogram showing deformation of the ground surface around the summit of Kīlauea volcano from September 24 to October 2, 2026. Blue circles mark earthquakes recorded during this period, with larger circles representing stronger earthquakes. Most of the earthquakes occurred between September 30 and October 1, 2026.
Some of the new cracks that formed on Kīlauea caldera floor between September 30-October 1 were steaming and warm (about 60 dg Celsius, or 140 dg Fahrenheit) when they were measured by this thermal camera on October 6.
Some of the new cracks that formed on Kīlauea caldera floor between September 30-October 1 were steaming and warm (about 60 dg Celsius, or 140 dg Fahrenheit) when they were measured by this thermal camera on October 6.
Telephoto view of the northern part of Kīlauea's upper caldera floor the Uēkahuna overlook. While some of the ground cracking in this area occurred during the 2018 caldera collapse, there is evidence of new ground cracking associated with the dike intrusion that occurred during the night of September 30 to October 1.
Telephoto view of the northern part of Kīlauea's upper caldera floor the Uēkahuna overlook. While some of the ground cracking in this area occurred during the 2018 caldera collapse, there is evidence of new ground cracking associated with the dike intrusion that occurred during the night of September 30 to October 1.
Photograph from the Uēkahuna overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park looking at the northern part of Kīlauea's upper caldera floor. This is the area where increased seismicity and ground deformation occurred during the night of September 30 to October 1.
Photograph from the Uēkahuna overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park looking at the northern part of Kīlauea's upper caldera floor. This is the area where increased seismicity and ground deformation occurred during the night of September 30 to October 1.
The largest new crack observed on the northern part of Kīlauea caldera floor during a field visit on October 6, 2026, was measured at 15 cm (6 inches) wide. The sharp edge of the tephra deposit above the crack, as well as delicate suspended roots that were pulled apart in the crack, help indicate that this is a new crack and not an older, existing one.
The largest new crack observed on the northern part of Kīlauea caldera floor during a field visit on October 6, 2026, was measured at 15 cm (6 inches) wide. The sharp edge of the tephra deposit above the crack, as well as delicate suspended roots that were pulled apart in the crack, help indicate that this is a new crack and not an older, existing one.
Another view of the new ground cracks in the north part of Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera, cutting through the recent tephra deposits on the caldera floor. New cracks were up to about 6 inches (15 cm) wide. The active vents of the ongoing eruption are visible in the upper right portion of the photo. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Another view of the new ground cracks in the north part of Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera, cutting through the recent tephra deposits on the caldera floor. New cracks were up to about 6 inches (15 cm) wide. The active vents of the ongoing eruption are visible in the upper right portion of the photo. USGS photo by M. Patrick.