Flood watches and warnings were issued across western Oregon and Washington on December 7, 2025, valid through December 12, as strong atmospheric river produces sustained rainfall, rising river levels and increasing landslide risk.
A powerful lava fountain from Kīlauea’s Halemaʻumaʻu crater, Hawaiʻi, destroyed the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s V3 streaming camera at around 10:00 HST (20:00 UTC) on December 6, 2025. The camera was recording live when an inclined fountain from the south vent buried it in hot pumice and tephra during Episode 38 of the ongoing summit eruption.
Kīlauea’s Halemaʻumaʻu crater, Hawaiʻi, began erupting at 08:45 HST (18:45 UTC) on December 6, 2025, when fountains emerged from the north vent, marking the start of Episode 38 of the ongoing summit eruption. Within minutes, a south vent opened, and by 09:15 HST a rare triple-vent lava fountain was active, producing jets up to 370 m (1 200 ft) high and a 6 km (20 000 feet) plume above the summit. The eruption lasted 12.1 hours, covered more than half of Halemaʻumaʻu crater with new lava, destroyed the USGS V3 streaming camera, and ended abruptly at 20:52 HST on the same day (06:52 UTC on December 7).
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.0 struck near Yakutat, Alaska, at 20:41 UTC on December 6, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.8 at a depth of 10 km. According to the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC), there is no tsunami danger from this earthquake.
A major atmospheric river (AR4–AR5 possible) is forecast to make landfall over the Pacific Northwest early Monday, December 8, 2025, and persist through Wednesday, December 10, bringing multiple days of heavy rain and elevated snow levels. Ensemble guidance shows ~70–80% of members reaching at least AR4 in southern coastal Washington, with ~20–30% indicating AR5, raising the risk of widespread riverine flooding.
Heavy snow and strong winds are affecting parts of Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Colorado, with multiple winter storm warnings and advisories in effect through Saturday, December 6, 2025. Mountain areas are expected to receive 15–60 cm (6–24 inches) of snow, creating hazardous travel conditions through the weekend.
The first of multiple Arctic blasts expected this month brought record-low temperatures across the Midwest on Thursday, December 4, 2025, with reports of over 40 record lows for the day. More record lows are expected as the Arctic wave moves through the Northeast on Friday, December 5.
Low-level eruptive activity resumed at Ambae volcano (Manaro Voui) in Vanuatu, with intermittent ash emissions observed since December 1, 2025. Satellite imagery from Himawari-9 confirmed continuous low-level ash and gas plumes reaching up to 1.8 km (6 000 feet) above sea level, drifting northwest. The Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) issued its latest advisory on December 4, describing the eruption as continuous but confined within the volcano’s summit area.
Multiple winter weather advisories are in effect across Texas and the Oklahoma panhandles on Thursday morning, December 4, 2025, as snow and sleet create hazardous travel conditions through early afternoon.
Heavy snow squalls are forecast to hit much of the U.S. Northeast through Thursday, December 4, 2025, with New York State and parts of New England expected to see the strongest impact. The snow squalls triggered by, and arctic surge will create dangerous travel conditions across key routes including the I-90 corridor.
