Lava fountaining from Kilauea’s episode 49 ends after 7 hours

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK (HawaiiNewsNow) – Episode 49 of lava fountaining in Halemaumau crater at the summit of Kilauea has ended after more than seven hours of lava fountaining.

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Fountaining in the latest episode of the ongoing eruption began at 9:32 a.m. on Sunday, ending shortly after 5 p.m.

Scientists said the start of the episode was marked by a rapid increase in summit tremor along with ongoing summit deflation.

Lava fountains were measured at approximately 50 to 75 feet high shortly after the episode began.

Fountain heights from the north vent peaked at around 700 feet shortly before 11 a.m. The height lowered to about 400 feet by 1:30 p.m.

The U.S. Geological Survey said fresh lava covered 30% to 40% of the crater floor.

Officials said the fountains are expected to grow to between 600 and 800 feet.

At around 2 p.m., USGS said a whirlwind hit the V3 live streaming cam.

USGS reported a wind shift, and a plume cloud is moving northeast, bringing possible light ashfall towards downwind communities.

Hawaii County Civil Defense encourages residents downwind to disconnect their catchment tanks to avoid ashfall and tephra from entering.

At around 4:45 p.m., USGS said north vent fountaining dropped to about 300 feet. Lava continued to flow on the south and east side of the crater. Field crews found no significant ash fall on the north side of the summit.

Just after 5 p.m., USGS said the episode had ended with the north vent dropping rapidly from 200-300 feet and began jetting tephra in bursts in the last two to three minutes.

View the current episode from USGS’s live cameras here: