Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano began its 55th eruptive episode since December 23, 2024, shortly after 3 a.m. local time on Saturday, after an unusually long two-month hiatus. Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is on track to erupt once again in early November, about three weeks after it concluded its 55th eruptive episode in mid-October. Kilauea began its most recent eruptive pattern on December 23, 2024. Since then, episodes have occurred on a semi-regular basis. The volcano was unusually dormant for two months between episode 54 on August 25 and episode 55 on October 17. WATCH IT: HAWAII’S KILAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTS FOR THE 55TH TIME SINCE 2024 AFTER A RARE TWO-MONTH PAUSE. USGS scientists monitor the status of the volcano daily to predict when the next eruption might occur. Image of Kilauea’s 55th eruptive episode from Dec. 23, 2024. (USGS/FOX Weather) On Friday, the USGS said the source of Episode 56 is most likely to begin between Nov. 2 and Nov. 9, after originally predicting the next episode between Nov. 1 and Nov. 7. SCIENTISTS CAN NO LONGER PREDICT WHEN KILAUEA WILL ERUPT DUE TO RECENT VOLCANIC ACTIVITY The 48th episode of the Mount Kilauea volcano. (@USGSVolcanoes / Instead of increasing steadily as it had before previous episodes, the tilt remained negative or relatively stable for long periods of time leading up to episode 55. During episode 55, which only lasted a few hours, lava gushed 720 feet into the air from the northern vent. THE PHILIPPINES’ MAYON VOLCANO ERUPTS ALONG THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE, SENDING A MASSIVE ASH PLUME INTO THE SKY Kilauea’s 55th eruptive episode (USGS/FOX Weather) On Friday, the USGS said Kilauea’s western vent showed a strong intermittent glow, while the northern vent showed a weaker glow. The south vent has remained dark since episode 55, when it was buried. According to the USGS, seismic tremors, slowly emerging seismic waves that can last minutes or days when eruptions are ongoing, were recorded Thursday and Friday. HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER Kilauea’s 53rd eruptive episode on August 12, 2026. (USGS/FOX Weather) Additionally, four small earthquakes of magnitude 1.5 or less were recorded in and around Kaluapele, the Kilauea caldera. Kilauea continues to be closely monitored as scientists continue to gather data to work on a more accurate eruption forecast.
