Tornado-like vortex forms over Halemaʻumaʻu crater during Kīlauea eruption, Hawaiʻi
A short-lived tornado-like vortex formed above the lava fountains in Halemaʻumaʻu crater, Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi, around noon on November 9, 2025, during Episode 36 of the ongoing summit eruption. The phenomenon, caused by intense heating and localized wind shear, was captured on video from within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
The swirling column of air and volcanic gas appeared briefly over the active vent during a period of high lava fountaining. The vortex was observed and recorded by multiple observers, including Justin Hiram, who described it as a “volnado” — a term sometimes used informally to describe small, transient vortices generated by volcanic heat.
According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), vortex formation of this type occurs when the intense surface heating from erupting lava produces strong convective updrafts that begin to rotate. If the rotation becomes organized, a visible vortex column can develop, carrying ash, gas, and small particles.
Such vortices are typically short-lived, lasting only a few seconds to a few minutes, and are much weaker than tornadoes associated with thunderstorms. They are sometimes referred to as lava whirlwinds or fire whirls in volcanological observations. While visually striking, these features usually pose minimal hazard beyond the immediate eruptive area.
A similar event was noted by the USGS during a previous phase of Kīlauea’s eruption in September 2025, when observers described comparable rotating plumes over the crater floor. The agency noted at that time that terms such as “volnado” or “lavanado” are not scientific designations but are often used informally to describe the visual resemblance to small vortices.
The “volnado” appeared during the early hours of Episode 36, the same eruptive event that produced record-high lava output and fountains reaching up to 330 m (1 100 feet). The short-lived vortex formed while both vents on the crater floor were active, and dissipated as fountain intensity declined later in the day.
Similar features have been documented at volcanoes worldwide, including Etna in Italy and Fuego in Guatemala, though they remain relatively rare due to the specific conditions required for formation.
Featured image credit: Hawaii Off-Grid
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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