1/3 Swipe or click to see more 2/3 Swipe or click to see more COURTESY OF USGS Lava fountains returned to Halemaumau Crater on Hawaii Island today for the first time since August 25. 3/3 Swipe or click to see more COURTESY USGS Lava fountains returned to Halemaumau Crater on Hawaii Island today for the first time since August 25. UPDATE: 9:45 a.m. Episode 55 of Kilauea’s ongoing lava eruption ended abruptly this morning after nearly six hours, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. HVO scientists said the fountain in Halemaumau Crater ended at 9:03 a.m. after starting at 3:19 a.m. As with the previous 54 fountain episodes, all eruptive vents and lava flows are limited to Halemaumau. Scientists said tephra from volcanic ash clouds fell primarily within 3 miles of the vents, while lighter ash and Pele’s Hair may remain suspended at farther distances. They said the source is unlikely to return to the crater over the next few weeks. Don’t miss what’s happening! Stay in touch with the latest news as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It’s FREE! PREVIOUS COVERAGE Lava fountains returned to the top of Kilauea volcano overnight for the first time since late August. At 3:19 p.m. today, a large lava fountain erupted from the northern vent inside Halemaumau Crater, reaching a maximum height of 720 feet around 5 a.m., according to scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. “The plume from this eruption is reaching about 25,000 feet above sea level,” officials said in a news release. “The winds blow from the north-northeast direction, suggesting that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed south-southwest from Halemaumau. Current radar images show a significant amount of tephra within the plume up to just 8,000 above sea level.” Kilauea’s intermittent eruption began on December 23, 2024, and lava fountains had occurred regularly every few weeks with the last episode on August 25. However, magma beneath the summit surface shifted, and in mid-September several new vents emerged near the northwest wall of Halemaumau Crater, generating small lava flows on the crater floor, but without high sources, according to HVO scientists. Today marks the 55th episode of the ongoing eruption and, as in previous episodes, all lava activity is contained in the summit crater.
