HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice Volcano: Kilauea
HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice
Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Issued: Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 5:45 PM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H386
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii
Summary: Episode 53 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption continues at 15:30 p.m. HST on 12 August 2026.
Volcanic Activity:
Episode 53 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:45 p.m. HST on August 12 and continues as of this notice at 15:45 p.m. HST.
Peak fountain heights have reached 500 ft (150 m) above ground level between 5:00 and 5:45 p.m. HST. The plume from this eruption is reaching over 18,000 feet above sea level. Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that winds are blowing from the northeast carrying SO2 gas along with fine ash and Peleʻs hair to the southwest. Models, NWS data, and satellite images show the plume carrying gas and possibly fine ash and Peleʻs hair westward from the vent area.
- All eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Tephra fall from volcanic ash clouds is greatest within 3 miles (5 km) of the vents, lighter ash and Pele’s Hair may stay suspended for large distances from the vents.
- Help support science and community awareness by reporting tephra fall: https://hawaiiash.science/report_form
- Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos that show eruptive lava fountains are available here: https://youtube.com/@usgs/streams
- KPcam and MKcam provide views of the plume height for aviation purposes
- Additional short updates as the episode progresses will be posted here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages
- Timeline of eruptive episodes since December 23, 2024: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/eruption-information
Most lava fountaining episodes since December 23, 2024, have continued for a day or less.
Remarks:
Hazard Analysis:
Volcanic Gas: water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are continuously released during an eruption. SO2 reacts in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic air pollution) downwind, which may cause respiratory and other problems. Further information on vog can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org/
Tephra: small glassy volcanic fragments—volcanic ash, pumice, scoria, Pele’s hair and reticulite—are created by the lava fountains. A combination of fountaining dynamics and wind conditions determines where tephra fall may occur for any given eruption episode. Larger particles fall near the vents while light particles may be wafted greater distances. These particles may be remobilized during windy conditions following recent eruptive episodes. Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to these fragments, which can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. More information and guidance on tephra fall hazards is available at https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/resource-and-guidance-for-volcanic-tephra-fall/
Lava flows: generally advance slowly downslope, and during this eruption flows have been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea’s summit caldera.
Other significant hazards exist around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes. Close to the vents, the tephra material on the crater rim is prone to cracking, slumping, and small landslides that sometimes expose hot and molten material within. This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of Kīlauea’s caldera rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since late 2007.
