HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE U.S. Geological Survey Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 9:47 AM
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 9:47 AM
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
Overview:
After nearly 18 hours of precursory activity, episode 46 fountaining began at 08:17 a.m. today, May 5th, and continues at this time. North vent fountain heights are currently reaching 500 ft (150 m). Wind conditions are currently light from the southeast but may increase mid-day leading to tephra fallout to the northwest. Tephra fallout has been reported north-northwest of the eruptive vents in Halemaʻumaʻu, with fist-sized clasts at Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and between mile markers 31 and 34 on Highway 11.
The National Weather Service has issued an Ashfall Advisory for the southeast and east sides of the Island of Hawaiʻi: https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=HFO&wwa=ashfall%20advisory
No significant activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
NOTE: Significant changes in activity between Daily Updates are posted here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages
Summit Observations:
Prior to fountaining at Kilauea summit, there were about 45 overflow events from both vents (24 overflows produced from the north vent; 21 overflows from the south vent) since yesterday afternoon. Accumulated overflows from both vents extended approximately halfway across the caldera floor prior to fountaining and now cover approximately half of the caldera floor. Low-level dome fountaining from the north vent began at 8:17 a.m. this morning, and grew in vigor/height, with current north vent fountains reaching 500 ft (150 m) high. The south vent also began fountaining intermittently around 9:05 a.m. this morning.
Wind conditions are currently light from the southeast, allowing tephra from the fountains to be transported to the north-northwest of the eruptive vents in Halemaʻumaʻu. Fist-sized tephra particles have been reported falling at Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and between mile markers 31 and 34 on Highway 11.
Seismic tremor and earthquake activity at the summit are at elevated levels in response to episode 46 activity. Prior to fountaining, there were 54 small earthquakes recorded across the summit in the past day. All earthquakes were confined to or just south of Halema’uma’u crater and were under 2.0M. Most of these earthquakes occurred at a depth between 3-6 miles (5-10 km).
During episode 45, the Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) recorded about 16.0 microradians of deflationary tilt. Before the onset of episode 46, UWD recorded a total of 15.7 microradians of inflationary tilt. UWD is currently recording rapid deflationary tilt in response to fountaining.
SO2 emission rate over the past day occasionally spiked to 2 ppm, but since the onset of lava overflows, has remained at a low rate below 0.2 ppm.
Rift Zone Observations:
Rates of seismicity and ground deformation remain low in the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone. SO2 emissions from the East Rift Zone remain below the detection limit.
Analysis:
Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since December 23, 2024, from two vents (north and south) in Halema‘uma‘u. Lava fountaining episodes, which generally last for less than 12 hours, are separated by pauses that can be longer than three weeks.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and is in contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency about eruptive hazards.
Please see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
