Leaky Mountain Tours

09/18/2024

Where can I see the eruption?

The eruption resumed with new fissures overnight inside the Nāpau Crater. This is a remote wilderness area over six miles from the nearest road. No public viewing is possible at this time. We are currently evaluating hazards such as wildland fire, gas emissions, and flow direction with our Hawaiian Volcano Observatory partners. Chain of Craters Road remains closed at this time.

This photograph of Kīlauea's ongoing middle East Rift Zone eruption was captured during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight during the morning of September 17, 2024. Geologists observed bright red fountaining eruptive fissures in a line in the middle of the Nāpau Crater with active lava flows on the floor surrounded by green trees and vegetation around the crater rim. This location is just downrift (northeast) of the September 15 eruptive fissure. This south-facing view shows the current activity from the north side of Nāpau Crater. USGS photo by A. Ellis.

Visit the park website for the latest conditions and closures: https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Check out the eruption via we**am: https://www.nps.gov/media/we**am/view.htm?id=CB297CB0-CB5C-99F3-868877061AFB0B62

07/31/2024

🎶 "I’m on the highway to the danger zone..." 🎶

Great news! The Maunaulu parking area is now open! Traffic has been rerouted around the cracks caused by the recent magma intrusion between July 22 and 25 along the East Rift Zone. Chain of Craters Road is also open to vehicles. Don't be top-gunning it. Drive safely and obey all posted speed limit signs. Motorcyclists should use extra caution and expect bumps and rough road conditions. Parking is only allowed in designated parking spaces and pullouts. Visitors are reminded not to park along roadways.

Kīlauea is not erupting, and according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, additional seismic swarms can occur with little or no warning and result in another magma intrusion or an eruption of lava.

For more information on the Maunaulu trail, visit the park website.



NPS Photo/ Large cracks along the sides of the Maunaulu lava shield.

06/03/2024

This eruption has already surpassed the 1974 event in the same area. The last one lasted for 6 hrs.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Monday, June 3, 2024, 9:38 AM HST (Monday, June 3, 2024, 19:38 UTC)

KILAUEA (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: Kīlauea volcano is erupting. A new eruption began at approximately 12:30 a.m. HST on Monday, June 3, about 4 km (2.5 miles) southwest of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The eruption is currently ongoing but is taking place in a remote location within the national park, is low in eruptive volume, and does not pose an immediate threat to human life or critical infrastructure.

Eruption Site Observations: Lava is currently erupting from a fissure system extending approximately 1 km (0.6 miles) in length. One fissure is currently active; three additional fissures were active last night but are no longer active this morning. Lava flows are thin and have only traveled a few hundred meters (yards) from the fissures. The total area covered by new lava is currently estimated at a few thousand square meters (yards). Numerous large ground cracks have formed in the vicinity of the eruption.

This eruption is occurring in the same approximate location as the December 1974 eruption. Fissures from this eruption have the same orientation as fissures from the December 1974 eruption. The December 1974 eruption lasted about 6 hours but was far more voluminous and covered a much larger area. At this time, it is not possible to say how long the current eruption will last.

Due to the remote location of this eruption, the primary hazards at this time are airborne hazards related to gas emissions and tephra being blown down wind of the eruption.

Volcanic gases and steam are being emitted from the eruptive fissure system and from nearby ground cracks. Emissions data are being collected and analyzed at the time of this report and results will be included in future updates.

06/03/2024

ERUPTION!! Kilauea’s SW Rift Zone! I the area of the 1974 eruption

Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Previous Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

Current Aviation Color Code: RED
Previous Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Issued: Monday, June 3, 2024, 2:11 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2024/H167
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Volcanic Activity Summary:
Kīlauea volcano is erupting. A new eruption began at approximately 12:30 a.m. HST on Monday, June 3, likely about a mile (1-2 km) south of Kīlauea caldera and north of the Koa'e fault system and Hilina Pali Road, within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
Accordingly, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is raising the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from WATCH to WARNING and the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to RED.
Glow is visible in we**am imagery, indicating that lava is currently erupting from fissures. The most recent eruption in this region was during December 1974, which lasted only about 6 hours. At this time, it is not possible to say how long the eruption will last.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea for signs of increasing or decreasing activity. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued.
Hazards are present on Kīlauea and are described below. Residents and visitors should stay informed and follow County of Hawai‘i and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guidelines.
Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low. Current activity is restricted to the summit region.

06/03/2024

Elevated alert level to Orange!! C’mon Kilauea!!

HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Previous Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Previous Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Issued: Sunday, June 2, 2024, 5:31 PM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2024/H166
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Volcanic Activity Summary:
Kīlauea is not erupting. Increased earthquake activity and ground deformation at Kīlauea’s summit began at approximately 12:00 p.m. HST on June 2, 2024, indicating the likely movement of magma in the subsurface. Rates of seismicity and deformation increased further after 5:00 p.m. HST. At this time, it is not possible to say with certainty if this activity will lead to an eruption – the activity may remain below ground. However, an eruption in Kīlauea’s summit region within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is one potential outcome.

Accordingly, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is raising the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from ADVISORY to WATCH and the Aviation Color Code from YELLOW to ORANGE.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea for signs of increasing activity. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued.

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low. Current activity is restricted to the summit region.

Hazards are still present on Kīlauea and are described below. Residents and visitors should stay informed and follow County of Hawai‘i and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guidelines.

06/03/2024

Kilauea is activating! Will she erupt this time?? 🤔@

06/03/2024

Earthquake activity has picked up:

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey
Sunday, June 2, 2024, 2:18 PM HST (Monday, June 3, 2024, 00:18 UTC)

KILAUEA (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Kīlauea volcano is not erupting. On Sunday, June 2, 2024, earthquake activity beneath the south part of Kaluapele (Kīlauea’s summit caldera) increased at approximately 12:00 p.m. HST. Earthquake activity is ongoing at 1.2–1.8 miles (2–3 km) below the surface, along with an increase in the rate of ground deformation in the summit region. Currently, there are no signs of an imminent eruption; however, conditions could change quickly.

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low. Current activity is restricted to the summit region.

The Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code for Kīlauea remains at ADVISORY/YELLOW.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Kīlauea for any changes and will issue additional notices as needed.

05/03/2024

A few decent pops, all of which are shallow. Will see where this leads, but the upper ERZ continues to talk as magma fills the sub-surface area.

04/09/2024