Images

A misty view across Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera, on March 25, 2026, from the caldera rim near the Volcano House Hotel in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The active north and south vents, on the southwest side of the caldera, are visibly degassing in this photo, following episode 43 of lava fountaining on March 10, 2026.

This vertical aerial view, taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring helicopter overflight on March 25, 2026, shows a small area of weak spattering deep within the south vent, at the summit of Kīlauea. The south vent and spattering (orange dot) are visible at the bottom of the photo. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

This map shows the tephra fall associated with episode 43 of Kīlauea's episodic summit eruption, on March 10, 2026. Tephra is a generic word for any material erupted by a volcano that travels through the air before landing on the ground.

Highway 11 near Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was affected by fallout from episode 43 lava fountains at the summit of Kīlauea on March 10, 2026. The Highway, which was nearly continuously covered with tephra, was closed on March 10 as material was cleared using heavy equipment.

In Volcano Village, located northeast of the eruptive vents at the summit of Kīlauea, fallout from episode 43 was less extensive than the areas to the west. This photograph shows a parking area that nearly continuously covered with tephra particles ranging up to a couple 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. 

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. 

Fallout from Kīlauea episode 43 is continuing to be cleared as of the morning of March 11, 2026. This photo shows a pile of tephra that was cleared from a roadway in Kilauea Military Camp, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where the fallout continuously covered the ground. USGS photo. 

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.

Ash fallout from Kīlauea summit lava fountaining episode 43 in Hilo just before 3 p.m. HST on March 10, 2026. 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.

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 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.

Episode 43 of Kīlauea's ongoing eruption occurred on March 10, 2026. This photo is taken on the Mauna Loa Road within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, looking northwest. This photo shows the edge of the episode 43 tephra deposit.

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.

Episode 43 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption occurred on March 10. Lava fountains from the north and south vents on the western side of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor produced a large eruption plume of volcanic gases and rock fragments (tephra).

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).

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. 

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.

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.