Scientists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are tracking changes on the Mauna Loa, the world's largest volcano. This volcano is currently not erupting, but there have been signs of elevated unrest above known background activity since July 2019, when HVO...
May 12, 2021
While the largest volcano on Earth -- Mauna Loa is not erupting, rates of deformation and seismicity at the summit remain slightly elevated and above long-term background levels. Other Mauna Loa monitoring data streams show no significant change in deformation rates...
April 16, 2021
Hawaiian Kilauea volcano continues erupting since December 20, 2021, with lava activity confined to the Halemaʻumaʻu crater. On April 15, the lava lake was 227 m (745 feet) deep and remains stagnant over its eastern half. SO2 emission rates remain elevated at 950...
April 16, 2021
A small swarm of shallow seismicity, that began at 11:00 UTC on March 18, 2021, is occurring beneath the upper Ka‘ōiki seismic zone, under Mauna Loa’s southeast flank and northwest of Kīlauea's summit, Hawaii. Mauna Loa Volcano is not erupting;...
March 19, 2021
Heavy rains caused a major landslide on the Kuhio Highway in Kauai, Hawaii, on Thursday, March 11, 2021. The severe weather also led to flooding that prompted the closure of three state parks, along the said highway. A huge landslide occurred at the Kuhio Highway...
March 12, 2021
Emergency evacuations have been ordered for residents in the Haiku area in Maui, Hawaii, after heavy rainfall has caused a breach on the Kaupakalua Dam on Monday afternoon, March 8, 2021. Authorities also warned people that flooding in the area is...
March 09, 2021
Eruptive activity is ongoing at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, with lava erupting from a vent on the northwest side of the crater. As of January 25, 2021, the lake was around 205 m (673 feet) deep, while SO2 emission rates remain elevated. The volcano is currently on...
January 27, 2021
Lava activity at Hawai'ian Kilauea volcano is confined to Halemaʻumaʻu with lava erupting from vents on the northwest side of the crater, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) reported at 19:11 UTC on January 5, 2021. Early January 5 (UTC), the lava lake was...
January 06, 2021
Two fissures continue to erupt lava into the growing lava lake in Kilauea's Halema'uma'u crater, as of 11:00 UTC on December 23, 2020. No activity outside of the crater has been observed. Gas emissions and seismic tremor remain elevated, with minor...
December 23, 2020
A new eruption has started within Kīlauea’s summit caldera, Hawai'i at 07:36 UTC on December 21, 2020. Accordingly, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has elevated Kīlauea's volcano alert level to WARNING and its aviation color code to RED. The...
December 21, 2020
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) recorded a shallow M4.4 earthquake beneath Mauna Kea's northwest flank at 19:27 UTC (09:27 HST) on Monday, December 14, 2020. The epicenter was located about 20 km (12 miles) SE of Waimea, and 52 km (32 miles) WNW of...
December 15, 2020
Seismic activity increased on Mauna Loa's northwest flank on December 4, 2020, with M4.1 earthquake and clusters of small, shallow earthquakes occurring closely in time and location. The volcano is not erupting but the rates of deformation and seismicity have...
December 11, 2020
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has recorded over 130 earthquakes beneath the NE top of the Ka‘ōiki fault system, northwest of Kīlauea's summit, on October 22 and 23, 2020. Other Kīlauea monitoring data streams remain stable and show no signs of...
October 24, 2020
The eyewall of Hurricane "Douglas" passed just north of Oahu on Sunday night (LT), July 26, 2020, sparing Hawaii of the storm's worst. At 15:00 UTC (05:00 LT) on Monday, July 27, the center of the storm was located about 149 km (90 miles) northwest of...
July 27, 2020
A recent study by the University of Hawaii examined the impacts of the 2018 Hurricane "Lane" and revealed that preceding moisture conditions brought by the storm exacerbated fire hazards, and both fire and rain severity were impacted by the hurricane...
July 26, 2020
USGS seismologists have detected deep long-period earthquakes beneath the dormant Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii at depths of about 20 to 25 km (12 to 15 miles) occurring with surprising regularity every 7 to 12 minutes. While low-frequency earthquakes are not unusual,...
July 26, 2020
Category 2 Hurricane "Douglas" continues moving WNW toward Hawaii and is expected to be near hurricane strength when it nears the islands Saturday night (LT) through Sunday, July 25 and 26, 2020. Key messages issued by NHC: Douglas continues to approach...
July 25, 2020
Category 4 Hurricane "Douglas" is entering the Central Pacific on its way toward Hawaii. There are still no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but interests in the Hawaiian Islands should monitor its progress as watches could be issued on Friday, July...
July 24, 2020
Tropical Storm "Douglas" became the first hurricane of the 2020 eastern Pacific hurricane season at 15:00 UTC on July 22, 2020, and then rapidly strengthened into a major hurricane by 09:00 UTC on July 23. The only years with later first eastern North...
July 23, 2020
Tropical Storm "Douglas" formed at 07:00 UTC on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, as the fourth named storm of the 2020 Pacific hurricane season. The storm is moving west and is expected to become a hurricane soon. It is expected to continue heading W and weaken...
July 22, 2020
New research reveals that Hawaii's Pūhāhonu volcano is the largest and hottest shield volcano on Earth, although it is barely visible as only a portion of its tip is exposed above the seafloor. Pūhāhonu, a Hawaiian word which means "turtle surfacing for...
May 15, 2020
The USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory (HVO) reported increased seismic activity at the submarine Lōʻihi volcano in Hawaii from May 11 to 12, 2020. More than 100 earthquakes were detected, but USGS noted that there is no indication that a submarine eruption has...
May 13, 2020
Another intense Kona Low hit Hawaii on Saturday, March 28, 2020, causing major flooding in Kauai island and bringing the total March rainfall amount to nearly 2 032 mm (80 inches). A rare flash flood emergency was issued for Kauai as another wave of floods hit...
March 30, 2020
The National Weather Service (NWS) has placed all islands of Hawaii under flash flood watch on Tuesday, March 17, 2020-- and issued a rare tornado warning for Niihau for the first time in 11 years-- as a powerful low-pressure system - Kona Low - continues to dump...
March 17, 2020
A destructive winter storm pounded the islands Oahu and Kuai in Hawaii on Christmas Day-- Wednesday, December 25, 2019, which resulted in a landslide, knocked down trees, electricity disruption to over 18 000 customers, floods, and multiple traffic accidents....
December 26, 2019
An interactive online geonarrative about the 2018 Kilauea eruption has been launched by geologists. The site lets viewers re-live the event using an interactive timeline feature and an overview of the historic eruption. The experience is made even more fascinating...
September 23, 2019
Tropical Storm "Flossie" weakened to a tropical depression at 03:00 UTC on August 5, 2019, and continued moving closer to Hawaii. At the time, Flossie's center was located 565 km (350 miles) E of Hilo and 680 km (425 miles) ESE of Hana, Hawaii. Maximum...
August 05, 2019
Tropical Storm "Erick" formed on July 27, 2019, as the 5th named storm of the 2019 Pacific hurricane season. Gradual strengthening is expected while moving quickly westward toward Hawaii. Hurricane strength is expected late Monday or Tuesday, July 30....
July 28, 2019
A wildfire that broke out on Hawaii's Maui Island at 10:30 LT on July 11, 2019 spread to 4 040 ha (10 000 acres) by Friday morning. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate but were allowed to return after conditions improved. The fire grew out of control by...
July 12, 2019
Earthquake and ground deformation rates at Mauna Loa Volcano have exceeded long term background levels over the past several months, forcing the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to raise the Alert Level to Advisory and the Aviation Color Code to Yellow. All communities...
July 02, 2019
Activity at Hawaiian Mauna Loa volcano has risen to levels comparable to a higher period of activity between 2014 and 2017, HVO scientists said. The last eruption at the volcano took place in 1984. While there is no cause for alarm, those signs of higher activity...
April 15, 2019
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.5 hit the Hilina Region of Kilauea volcano, Hawai'i Island at 10:55 UTC (00:55 local time) on March 13, 2019. The agency is reporting a depth of 5.9 km (3.6 miles). The epicenter was located 8 km (5 miles) N of...
March 13, 2019
Heavy rains and convection across eastern and northern parts of the island of Kauai, Hawai‘i resulted in multiple reports of very heavy rainfall and flooding on April 14 to 15, 2018. In 24-hours to 12:35 HST, April 15, Waipa Garden in Kauai recorded 1 262.1 mm...
February 13, 2019
A low pressure area described by NWS Honolulu as historic is affecting Hawaii with strong gusty winds, rain squalls and large destructive surf since Friday, February 8, 2019. The storm, known as Kona low, is now slowly drifting NE of the state but strong winds will...
February 11, 2019
While Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii is not erupting at the moment and rates of seismicity, deformation, and gas release have not changed significantly over the past week, deformation signals are consistent with refilling of the middle East Rift Zone (ERZ) and hazards...
November 09, 2018
Hurricane "Olivia," the 15th named storm of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season, is intensifying as it tracks toward Hawaii. Little change in strength is forecast through late Monday (HST), with gradual weakening possible starting sometime Tuesday, September...
September 10, 2018
The latest forecast track from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center brings the center of Lane dangerously close to the Hawaiian Islands during the Thursday through Saturday time frame, August 23 to 25. Regardless of the exact track of the storm, life-threatening...
August 23, 2018
Category 4 Hurricane "Lane" is heading west at 19 km/h (12 mph) and is expected to turn toward Hawaii on August 22 and 23 and pass dangerously close to the main Hawaiian Islands. Current forecast track doesn't call for a direct impact and Lane will be...
August 21, 2018
The lull in activity at Kīlauea Volcano continues. HVO lowered the Alert Level for ground-based hazards from WARNING to WATCH, on August 17, but the Aviation Color Code remains at Orange. The summit has been quiet since the last collapse event on August 2. This...
August 20, 2018
Hurricane "Lane," the 12th named storm of the 2018 Pacific typhoon season is rapidly strengthening and this phase is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Lane is expected to become a major hurricane today and pass south of Hawaii on August 21/22. ...
August 17, 2018