Lava fountains reach 150 m (500 feet) as Kīlauea eruption episode 32 starts
Episode 32 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii, began at 16:35 UTC (06:35 HST) on September 2, 2025, producing lava fountains up to 150 m (500 feet) high. The eruption remains confined to the summit crater within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Kilauea eruption on September 2, 2025. Credit: USGS/HVO
Episode 32 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii, began at 16:35 UTC on September 2. Lava fountains at the north vent transitioned from dome-shaped activity to inclined fountains reaching about 150 m (500 feet) in height and arcing an equivalent distance into the crater.
The eruption produced a convective plume rising to altitudes between 2.7 km and 6 km (9 000–20 000 feet) above ground level. Winds from the northeast are carrying volcanic gases and fine particles toward the southwest of the summit.
The National Weather Service reported that if fountains remain inclined, ash and tephra output will remain limited, though sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations may increase in downwind communities.
Sulfur dioxide emissions during sustained lava fountaining are typically about 50 000 tonnes per day. This gas reacts in the atmosphere to form volcanic smog (vog), which may impact air quality in affected areas.
Hazards near the vent include fallout of Pele’s hair, volcanic glass strands that can travel more than 15 km (10 miles), along with pumice, scoria, and ash deposition within 1–3 km (1–2 miles).
Observations prior to the onset of the eruption included gas pistoning cycles starting at 20:30 HST on September 1, followed by intermittent overflows from the north vent beginning at 00:43 HST. A continuous overflow began at 05:31 HST and intensified with lava fountaining at 06:35 HST, accompanied by deflationary tilt and strong seismic tremor.
Volcanic vortices, resembling dust devils, were observed near the eruptive fountains. These vortices carried pumice fragments to altitudes of about 300 m (1 000 feet) above the vent.
All eruptive activity remains confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Kaluapele, Kīlauea’s summit caldera. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) reported no signs of activity in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. The volcano remains at Alert Level WATCH with Aviation Color Code ORANGE.
Hazards at the summit also include instability of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater walls, ground cracking, and potential rockfalls triggered by seismic activity.
Access to the caldera rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu has been closed to the public since 2007.
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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