Kilauea Eruption: Episode 41 of Lava Fountaining Begins

The eruption, which began on December 23, 2024, continues with episodic lava fountaining. Episode 41 saw fountains at both vents exceeding 820 feet by noon. The north vent had been overflowing continuously since 3:52 a.m., while the south vent had been overflowing since 10:07 a.m. Ground-level sensors indicate that volcanic gas emissions and material may blow to the north-northwest. The USGS continues to monitor Kilauea closely, providing live feeds and updates. This event follows several days of low-level activity, with weak spattering and overflows from the north vent leading up to the main episode. Most lava fountaining episodes since December 2024 have lasted a day or less. The recent earthquake activity in the summit region of Kīlauea, with approximately 300 earthquakes recorded between January 12 and 22, 2026, indicates ongoing internal processes within the volcano. These earthquakes, mostly smaller than magnitude-2, are broadly distributed beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the south caldera region of Kīlauea summit. This seismic activity provides valuable data for scientists monitoring the volcano's behavior and assessing potential hazards. Understanding these patterns helps in forecasting future eruptive events and mitigating risks to surrounding communities.

How to Prepare

Who This Affects Most

Tephra consists of fine glass particles that can irritate the skin and eyes.

All eruptive activity is confined to Halemaumau crater within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Most episodes since December 2024 have continued for a day or less.

Do you think this eruption will cause long-term disruptions? Let us know!

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