New eruption at Kilauea volcano, Aviation Color Code raised to Red, Hawaii

A new eruption began at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii at approximately 10:30 UTC (00:30 HST) on June 3, 2024. The eruption took place in a closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

The eruption is taking place about 1.6 km (1 mile) south of Kīlauea caldera and north of the Koa’e fault system and Hilina Pali Road, within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

Accordingly, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has raised the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from Watch to Warning and the Aviation Color Code from Orange to Red. 

“Glow is visible in webcam imagery, indicating that lava is currently erupting from fissures,” HVO volcanologists said.

“The most recent eruption in this region was during December 1974, which lasted only about 6 hours. At this time, it is not possible to say how long the eruption will last.”

The eruption follows a significant increase in earthquake and ground deformation rates at the volcano after 03:00 UTC today.

Residents and visitors are urged to stay informed and follow the County of Hawai‘i and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guidelines.

Kīlauea presents several hazards, with the primary concern being the high level of volcanic gas emissions, including water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). These emissions can create vog (volcanic smog), which poses health risks to residents and visitors, damages crops and plants, and affects livestock.

Additional hazards include instability around Kīlauea caldera, with ground cracking and rockfalls enhanced by earthquakes in the area, which has been closed to the public since 2008.

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low, with current activity restricted to the summit region.

Updates

01:01 UTC, June 4

The eruption has paused but activity in this region remains dynamic and could change quickly, HVO reported at 00:59 UTC on June 4.

Visual observations suggest that effusion of lava ceased by approximately 22:30 UTC. Lava flows were sluggish between 21:00 and 22:00 UTC and had ceased moving by approximately 22:30. However, areas of incandescence and elevated volcanic gas emissions continued.

At approximately 17:45 UTC, a sulfur dioxide emission rate of approximately 15 000 tonnes per day was measured; this emission rate had decreased to 12 000 tonnes per day as of 22:00 UTC and has likely decreased further afterward. Volcanic tremor, a signal associated with fluid movement, continues to be recorded on summit seismometers though at a slightly decreased intensity.  

Earthquake activity decreased greatly in the summit region of Kīlauea with the onset of the eruption. All seismicity for the last 8 hours is concentrated near Maunaiki at the western extent of the system of cracks that opened during this eruption. Ground deformation has been characterized by slow summit deflation since 12:00 UTC, suggesting that magma may still be moving from summit storage to the southwest into the eruption area.

“Fissure eruptions are often short-lived but can be difficult to forecast and can display pauses of hours to days,” HVO volcanologist said.

The large crack system developed on June 3 extends well past the westernmost active fissure, indicating that magma has been emplaced shallowly all the way to the east side of Maunaiki — the location of the most recent earthquake swarms.

While the eruption occurred due to the intrusion of new magma to the Southwest, it took place in the vicinity of the dike that formed close to the surface on January 31, 2024. Continued input of newer, hotter magma could destabilize the stored magma.

“While the current eruption may be over, it is equally likely that it might resume at or to the west of the last active fissure,” HVO said.

Due to the remote and unpredictable nature of the fissure eruption, the following temporary closures are in place in the Hawaii National Park:

• Hilina Pali Road from Chain of Craters Road intersection
• Kulanaokuaiki Campground
• Pepeiao Cabin
• Kaʻaha Trail and campground
• Kaʻū Desert Trail and pullout on Highway 11
• Maunaiki Trail

Most popular areas in the park remain open, including Kīlauea Visitor Center, overlooks along Crater Rim Trail, Volcano House, Nāhuku lava tube, and Chain of Craters Road, but no lava is visible to the public. Coastal backcountry sites from Halapē to the east remain open.

References:

¹ Kilauea volcano update – USGS/HVO – 12:11 UTC on June 3, 2024

² New Kīlauea eruption is in closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park – NPS – June 3, 204

Featured image: Kilauea volcano eruption on June 3, 2024. Credit: Yvonne Baur/Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association