Images

During a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight of Kīlauea summit on June 24, 2026, scientists captured this view looking down into the bifurcated structure within the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Magma was visible roiling within the vent. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

Volcanic gas emitting from the Halemaʻumaʻu south vent at the summit of Kīlauea obscured views during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring flight on June 24, 2026. Glow from the molten lava within the vent is vaguely visible in this view. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

A rainbow (ānuenue) frames altered and sulfur-coated tephra on the rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. These deposits often form in between lava fountaining episodes in Halemaʻumaʻu, as degassing and heat release continues. During lava fountaining episodes, new deposits coat the crater rim and bury the existing ones.

Comparison images from June 14, 2026, showing the episode 49 lava fountain at 11:01 a.m. (left) and the same location at 5:59 p.m., shortly after the fountaining stopped (right). Only the north vent produced lava fountaining during episode 49, while the south vent (located to the left of the fountain) displayed some minor spattering and jetting.

Episode 49 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halema‘uma‘u ended abruptly by 5:05 p.m. HST on June 14, after 7.5 hours of lava fountaining activity from the north vent. The final waning stage of fountaining activity lasted less than 5 minutes, during which the lava fountain dropped below 60-80 meters (200-260 ft) in height.

During lava fountaining episodes at the summit of Kīlauea, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists use laser rangefinders to estimate high how the lava fountains are reaching above the vents and how far the lava flows have traveled from the vents. Additionally, they document eruption dynamics and record eruptive activity using high-resolution cameras.

Episode 49 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halema‘uma‘u started at 9:36 a.m. HST on June 14, 2026, and lasted approximately 7.5 hours. Only north vent erupted a lava fountain, which reached a maximum height of about 210 m (688 ft). USGS photo by T. Paladino.

An overview of episode 49 of lava fountaining during the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption in Halema‘uma‘u, taken from Kīlauea overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Fountains reached a maximum height of approximately 210 m (688 ft), but because of wind patterns, little to no tephra was deposited in the public viewing areas of the national park.

USGS scientists traverse the tephra deposit from the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption in Halema‘uma‘u on June 14, 2026, to collect real-time measurements of lava fountain heights, tephra dispersal, and crater floor coverage during episode 49.

This telephoto view of the north vent lava fountain during episode 49 on June 14. 2026, shows the incandescent lava landing on and illuminating the Halema‘uma‘u crater wall. USGS photo by T. Paladino.

This photograph, taken just after 2 p.m. HST on June 14, 2026, shows a dust devil, or puahiohio, forming within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea during lava fountaining episode 49. USGS photo. 

USGS scientists conduct Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight on June 9, 2026, to document changes to the eruptive vents and crater floor after episode 48 that took place on June 1.

On June 9, 2026, USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists landed on the floor of Halema'uma'u crater in the vicinity of the south sulphur bank, visible in the background of this photo. The south sulphur bank was prominently visible in the mid-19th century but was covered as lava flows filled the caldera and wasn't visible in the twentieth century.

Aerial photograph showing the eruptive vents in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight on June 9, 2026. Erupted material (lava flows and tephra) continues to build up the base of the vents, and sulfur precipitation is present on the vent walls (yellow patches). USGS photo by H. Winslow.

This view is of the cone (pu‘u) that has formed in the predominant downwind direction (southwest) of the north and south vents during the ongoing eruption at Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. This photo is south of the southwest corner of Halema‘uma‘u and is looking to the north-northwest.

Before and after photos of vegetation defoliation outside the new USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Field Station building located near the Kilauea Military Camp inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Left photo was taken on February 11, 2026. Right photo was taken on April 21, 2026. USGS photos by K. Mulliken.

Signs of renewed growth on vegetation in areas hit hard by recent storm and volcanic impacts in the Kīlauea Summit region. Photos courtesy of Pete Lockhart and Jill Briggs. 

This map shows lava flow and tephra accumulation at the summit of Kīlauea volcano associated with episode 48 of the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu that started on December 23, 2024, using data recorded by the Italian Space Agency's (ASI) COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite constellation.

COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG) interferogram for the period from May 25 to June 2, 2026, covering Kīlauea volcano’s summit region.

This photo of the Halema‘uma‘u north vent lava fountain was captured shortly after sunrise on June 1, 2026, around the time that activity was peaking during Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 48. Preliminary estimates indicate that the lava fountain reached at least 500 feet (150 meters) in height during the episode.

In the early morning hours of June 1, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists reported to Uēkahuna to watch the beginning of Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 48. The fountaining episode began at 4:40 a.m. HST and by the time the scientists arrived around 5:00 a.m.