Images

The eruption at the summit of Kīlauea paused again the morning of December 25—resumption of activity as happened yesterday is possible, but not certain. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists arrived at Halema‘uma‘u crater rim just after the eruption pause, observing very weak spattering and drainback of lava into the vent. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Tephra accumulated in deep drifts downwind of the lava fountains at the summit of Kīlauea. The thickest portion was approximately a half meter (yard) deep, requiring USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory geologists to use 4WD to navigate through this closed portion of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A close up of a large clast from the recent lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea deposited on Crater Rim Drive within the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The lava was very gas rich so this clast was very light, akin to the density of a kitchen sponge. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Tephra ejected by the lava fountains between December 23 and 25, 2024, was carried in the gas plume and deposited on the nearby section of Crater Rim Drive that has been closed to the public for years due to intermittent Kīlauea summit eruptive activity. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Hazy conditions caused by sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from Halema‘uma‘u crater, Kīlauea, Hawai‘i.  USGS photo by Jennifer Lewicki, December 25, 2024.

This photo was taken at 9:20 a.m. HST on Christmas Day, December 25, and shows vigorous lava fountains and a towering gas plume at the summit of Kīlauea. Just an hour later, eruptive activity at the vent began to greatly decrease. USGS photo by L. Gallant.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists used a laser rangefinder to measure the height of the lava fountains erupting in Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) on December 24. Between 2:30 and 4:15 p.m. HST, the lava fountains were reaching heights of about 75 meters (246 feet). USGS photo by C. Sealing. 

A telephoto view of lava fountains erupting within Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) the afternoon of December 24. This eruption began on December 23 with vigorous lava and volcanic gas effusion, which decreased throughout the day until the eruption paused around 4:00 p.m. HST. Renewed, low-level eruption of sluggish lava began around 8 a.m.

The eruption at Kīlauea volcano that began yesterday, December 23, slowed starting around 3 p.m. HST yesterday. The eruption paused through the night and reactivated this morning at several of the vents along the southwest of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor.

The eruption at Kīlauea summit lights up Christmas Eve, as viewed from the overlook at Volcano House within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. A plume of volcanic gas and fine volcanic particles rises above the erupting vents before it is transported downwind, generally in a southwest direction within a closed area of the National Park. USGS photo by H.

This reference map depicts the new Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater on December 23, 2024, constructed using data captured during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight at 9:30 a.m.

This aerial view, captured during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight, shows the lava fountains active in the west part of Kīlauea caldera. The eruption began this morning at 2:20 a.m. HST, December 23, and fountains reached up to 90 meters (290 feet) overnight.

A lobe of molten pāhoehoe lava on the floor of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) on December 23, 2024. USGS photo by M. Patrick. 

Kīlauea volcano began erupting within the summit caldera at approximately 2:20 a.m. HST this morning, December 23, 2024, following an increase in seismicity that began beneath the summit just a half hour earlier, at approximately 2:00 a.m. HST.

From the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists documented the new eruption within Kalupele that started this morning at 2:20 a.m. HST.

The B2cam captures a live view of Halemaʻumaʻu crater from the east rim and down-dropped block, looking west across Kīlauea summit caldera. On December 23, 2024, it captured the start of another Kīlauea summit eruption. USGS webcam image. 

Around 2:20 a.m. HST on December 23, 2024, Kīlauea's newest summit eruption began in Halema‘uma‘u. Lava fountains overnight reached up to 90 meters (295 feet) high and threw molten lava up and onto portions of the old Crater Rim Drive in a closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

During an overflight at approximately 9:30 a.m. HST, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists captured this view of the eruption that began this morning at 2:20 a.m. HST in Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera).

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist checks a webcam located on the rim of Kīlauea caldera. The webcam network at the summit of Kīlauea volcano is crucial for monitoring eruptions such as the one that began today, December 23, 2024, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS image by M. Patrick. 

During an overflight at 2:30 p.m. HST today, December 23, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists were able to collect a molten sample of lava from the new eruption within Kaluapele. Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano, is the sacred home of the elemental force associated with volcanoes—Pele.

The new Kīlauea summit eruption is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. High levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects down-wind.