Kīlauea Summit Glows as Eruption Pauses, Next Activity Expected Later This Week

Moderate glow lit the floor of Kīlauea’s Halemaʻumaʻu crater overnight, with the ongoing summit eruption remaining paused and USGS models projecting the next lava-fountaining episode between September 19 and 23.

The brief glow underscores continuing volcanic unrest at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where scientists monitor ground deformation and seismicity to anticipate renewed activity. Understanding these patterns is crucial for public safety and park operations.

Summit Glow Highlights Ongoing Unrest

− USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported a moderate glow at summit vents overnight, indicating residual heat from the prior eruption. − Episode 32, the 13.4-hour lava-fountaining event on September 2, deposited flows covering 40-50% of the crater floor; no new lava surfaced during the recent glow.

Models Forecast Next Eruption Episode

  • Next episode likely September 19-23, dependent on the rate of summit inflation and seismic tremor.
  • A decline in inflation could delay fountaining, while accelerated inflation may trigger renewed activity sooner.

Recent earthquake rates at the summit remain low, and ground-tilt measurements show continued inflation at the summit magma chamber. No significant activity has been detected along the East or Southwest Rift Zones.

Alert Levels and Hazards

− Volcano Alert Level: WATCH (Level 3) − Aviation Color Code: ORANGE (Level 3) These levels reflect the potential for sudden lava fountaining and associated hazards, including ash and Pele’s hair fallout near the crater rim.

What to Watch This Week

Park visitors and island communities should monitor USGS updates for signs of escalating seismicity or ground deformation. If Episode 33 begins as forecast, lava fountains could resume within days, renewing spectacular-but hazardous-glows inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater.