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
Hector remains Category 4 hurricane as it moves closer to Hawaii today but some weakening is expected during the next 24 hours and Hector is expected to be a strong Category 2 hurricane as it moves south of Big Island on Wednesday, August 8, 2018. Swells generated...
August 07, 2018
The current eruption at Kilauea is unprecedented in scope and size in the past 200 years, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deputy scientist-in-charge Steve Brantley said Tuesday, July 16, 2018. "What we are observing now is unprecedented in the past 200 years...
July 18, 2018
23 people were injured in Hawaii on Monday morning, July 16, 2018, after a large explosion near one of Kilauea's lava flow ocean entries sent volcanic material flying toward a commercial tour vessel. Captain of the boat said they were about 500 meters (1 640...
July 17, 2018
A lava-fueled thunderstorm over active lava fields in the lower East Rift Zone of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii produced about 1 200 lightning strikes within just 7 hours on July 2, 2018, NWS said. According to West Hawaii Today, spokeswoman for Mayor Harry Kim said...
July 04, 2018
The eruption of Kilauea volcano in the lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) continues with no significant change. Fountains from the fissure 8 spatter cone, now about 55 m (180 feet) continue to supply lava to an open channel that travels about 13 km (8 miles) to the sea....
July 02, 2018
Nearly 200 homes were destroyed by lava over the past 48 hours, bringing the total number to nearly 300 since Kilauea begun erupting on May 3, 2018. "It is safe to say that hundreds of homes were lost," Janet Snyder, a spokeswoman for Hawaii County said...
June 06, 2018
U.S. Marine Helicopters are ready to evacuate residents of Hawaiian Big Island as lava flows stream into the ocean and molten rock and huge cracks threaten to block their final escape route. Some 2 000 people have faced mandatory evacuations while another 2 000 may...
May 25, 2018
The moderate-level eruption of lava continues from multiple points along the central and northeast end of the active fissure system. Volcanic gas emissions have tripled as a result of the voluminous eruptions from the erupting fissures so SO2 concentrations are...
May 24, 2018
A moderate-level eruption of lava continues from multiple points along the central and northeast end of the active fissure system at Hawaiian Kilauea volcano. Residents in lower Puna should remain informed and heed Hawaii County Civil Defense closures, warnings, and...
May 19, 2018
A strong explosion took place at the Overlook vent within Halemaumau crater at Kilauea volcano's summit about 04:15 HST (14:15 UTC) on May 17, 2018, ejecting ash up to 9.1 km (30 000 feet) above sea level. The Aviation Color Code is at Red. Continued emissions...
May 17, 2018
At 23:23 UTC on May 15, USGS volcanologists upgraded Kilauea's warning code from orange to red, because of increased ash emissions from the summit crater. Aircraft traveling near Hawaii are warned to avoid small ash clouds. As of early May 15 (local time, UTC...
May 16, 2018
The eruption of lava continues from multiple points along the northeast end of the active fissure system. Residents in lower Puna are advised to remain informed and heed Hawaii County Civil Defense closures, warnings, and messages. A new eruption began around 08:00...
May 15, 2018
Three new fissures have opened up in Kilauea's ongoing East Rift eruption, bringing the total number of eruptive to 18 so far. Spattering is noted, forcing some local residents to evacuate, and the USGS warns that more activity is likely along the rift. This...
May 13, 2018
The intermittent eruption of lava in the Leilani Estates subdivision in the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano accompanied by toxic fumes and fountains up to 100 m (330 feet) high continues. A total of 11 fissures have emerged and 30 homes have been destroyed...
May 07, 2018
A very strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.9 hit Hawaii at 22:32 UTC (12:32 local time) on May 4, 2018. The agency is reporting a depth of 5 km (3.1 miles). M5.4 earthquake occurred in the same region just a few hours before M6.9, as well as...
May 05, 2018
A collapse of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater floor on Monday, May 1, 2018 on Kīlauea Volcano’s East Rift Zone has prompted increases in seismicity and deformation along a large section of the rift zone, with seismicity currently occurring as far east as Highway...
May 02, 2018
Observations and measurements of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption on Kīlauea Volcano’s East Rift Zone during the past month suggest that the magma system beneath Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō has become increasingly pressurized, the Hawaiian Volcano...
April 19, 2018
An upper level low west of Kauai and ample deep moisture have worked together to produce record-shattering rains in parts of Hawaii over the weekend. At least two homes were swept away by raging floodwaters and dozens more damaged. The hardest-hit area is between...
April 16, 2018
Several days of heavy rain caused widespread flooding on Maui and the Big Island, Hawaii this week. Heavy rains started Tuesday night but the worst hit Wednesday, December 20. According to NWS, Kahului Airport recorded nearly 67 mm (2.65 inches) of rainfall in 1...
December 22, 2017
Volcanic summits on Hawaii's Big Island are experiencing a mix of snow and rain accompanied by gusty winds. At the same time, heavy rainfall is falling on the rest of the state, forcing authorities to issue flash and areal flood warnings, watches and advisories....
November 30, 2017