Images

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. 

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.

Episode 43 of the ongoing Halema‘uma‘u eruption at Kīlauea summit ended at 6:21 p.m. HST on March 10. About 15 minutes after the end of the episode, USGS scientists serviced a webcam near Keanakāko‘i on the southeast caldera rim. Active lava flows continued to slowly advance along the crater floor, and stand out here in the low lighting.

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 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.

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.

On March 10, 2026, lava fountains erupted from two main vents within Halema‘uma‘u crater. During the ongoing episodic Kīlauea summit eruption, which began on December 23, 2024. There have been 43 episodes so far. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither from Keanakāko‘i.

Episode 43, which began at 9:17 a.m. HST on March 10, erupted for just over 9 hours before pausing again at 6:21 p.m. This panoramic view of episode 43 lava flows on Halema‘uma‘u crater floor was taken a few minutes after the fountaining stopped. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither near Keanakāko‘i on the southeast rim of the caldera.

Tephra fallout from episode 43 lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea accumulated on a roof in Mauna Loa Estates, east of the eruptive vents. Fallout in this area was less severe than what occurred during episode 41, and included particles up to 3 inches in diameter but coverage was not continuous. USGS photo. 

Volcanic ash and Pele's hair accumulated on a floor of a home located in Hilo after episode 43 lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea on March 10, 2026. The window was left open nearby and had a screen, but these small particles were able to waft inside. USGS photo. 

A USGS scientist performs maintenance on an eruption monitoring camera during episode 43 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. Work within this area, which is closed to the public, is done with permission from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on March 10, 2026. 

This photograph shows the grassy area around the flagpole at the Kilauea Military Camp in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Tephra about 4-5 inches in diameter started falling at this location at about 10:20 a.m. HST, and in total the area received about 2 inches of accumulation that completely covered the ground surface. USGS photo. 

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.