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

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

Activity Summary:

Small precursory overflows continue this morning from the south vent. The summit slowly deflated for most of the past 24 hours, which may delay the onset of episode 44 lava fountaining to later within the forecast window.   Additional overflows and associated spattering are likely to continue until the start of episode 44 fountaining. The current forecast window for episode 44 is April 6-14.

No significant activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

NOTE: The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Special Weather Statement yesterday about the potential for tephra fall from episode 44 in downwind communities especially if it begins in the middle to end of next week when the NWS has forecast possible southerly winds.

Significant changes in activity between Daily Updates are posted here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages

Summit Observations:                                                                                                                       

Precursory spattering and lava flows from the south vent began the morning of April 3 and continued over the past 24 hours. In total, nearly 50 overflows have occurred from the south vent since the morning of April 3, with accompanying small dome fountains about 3-6 feet (1-2 meters) high. These events were followed by more vigorous spattering when lava drains back into the south vent.  The north vents continued to glow strongly and continuously overnight.

Seismic tremor is continuous with frequent small, poorly-defined bursts possibly related to rise and fall of magma in the vents.

Summit tiltmeters UWD and SMC recorded mostly inflation since the end of episode 43, with a switch to mild deflation over the past 24 hours. The UWD tiltmeter recorded an estimated 24.4 microradians of inflationary tilt since the end of episode 43, with a switch to deflation around 6 a.m. HST this morning. Since yesterday morning, UWD tiltmeter has recorded a total of about 1 microradian of deflation.

During eruptive pauses, like the current conditions, the SO₂ emission rate from the summit has varied within a typical range of 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes of SO₂ per day. Winds remain steady at around 10-15 miles per hour out of the northeast.

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:

Rapid rebound of tilt following episode 43 fountaining, continued tremor, visible glow, and precursory overflows from the vents suggest that another fountaining episode is likely soon. Continued overflows and associated spattering are expected to continue as the start of episode 44 of lava fountaining approaches. Models based on summit inflation indicate that episode 44 fountains are likely to start between April 6 and April 14 with April 6-10 most likely.  However, given the summit region deflation since yesterday morning, likely due to overflows from the south vent that have occurred since the morning of April 3, the start of episode 44 could be delayed to later within the forecast window.