Episode 53 fountaining begins at Kilauea summit

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK (HawaiiNewsNow) – Episode 53 of Kilauea’s ongoing eruption began Sunday afternoon.

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U.S. Geological Survey said the latest episode began at about 3:45 p.m., and scientists expect lava fountains to reach peak heights in one to two hours.

USGS expects limited impacts from tephra and gas.

At 4:15 p.m., USGS said the north vent fountain was reaching heights over 250 meters.

The fountain reached about 400 feet just before 4:40 p.m., and scientists said the plume cloud is about 16,000 feet (5,000 meters) high at this time.

At 5:10 p.m., USGS said fountaining peaked at 500 feet (150 meters) and is producing moderate tephra and gas. The plume is now more than 18,000 feet above sea level. A low-level layer of gas and tephra is moving southwest, and a higher level is moving west.

Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey raised the volcano alert level for Kilauea after low-level eruptive activity began Wednesday morning.

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The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the activity started around 11:20 a.m. with intermittent lava fountains and overflows from the north vent inside Halemaumau crater.

In response, officials elevated Kilauea’s alert level from advisory to watch and its aviation color code from yellow to orange.

Scientists said the low-level activity could continue for hours or days before a stronger eruption, dubbed Episode 53, officially begins. The main eruptive phase is currently forecast to start Wednesday or Thursday.

All activity remains safely confined to Halemaumau crater within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and there is no immediate threat to nearby communities.

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Kilauea has seen recurring eruptive activity since December 2024.

Watch Kilauea on USGC’s livestream here: