Kīlauea is acting like it is getting ready for another show. By Friday morning, the summit was glowing strongly and even produced a brief overflow, clear signs that magma is pushing closer to the surface. Scientists say this is classic precursory behavior for another fountaining burst, and residents and visitors downwind are being reminded that ash, Pele’s hair and other lightweight tephra can drift well beyond the caldera and hang in the air for hours.
In its April 3 daily update, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that “glow was continuously visible from both vents overnight” and noted a small lava flow from the south vent just after 6 a.m. HST on April 3. Instruments at the summit are picking up inflation, continuous seismic tremor and gas emissions. Based on deformation models, HVO places the likely onset of Episode 44 sometime between April 6 and April 14. For now, the activity is confined to Halemaʻumaʻu inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and scientists say they are in close coordination with park and county officials.
The National Park Service has already taken some precautions. Summit viewing spots including Uēkahuna and the Kīlauea Overlook are temporarily closed while crews clear out heavy tephra and check for new hazards. In an April news release, the National Park Service warned that thick tephra, unstable crater rims and volcanic gas can create extremely dangerous conditions, and cautioned that additional overlooks could close without notice. Visitors are urged to check the park’s conditions page before heading out and to follow ranger instructions if they are on site.
Health officials are also watching the gas and ash. Volcanic sulfur dioxide can form vog, and fine ash and Pele’s hair can irritate eyes and lungs, especially for people with asthma, heart disease or other respiratory issues. The Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard provides real-time vog forecasts, air-quality data and tips for keeping water catchments and schools protected. Agencies recommend staying indoors during heavy vog or ashfall, using high-efficiency filters or N95-equivalent masks outdoors, and covering or disconnecting roof-catchment systems to keep ash out of drinking water.
Local media have amplified the same message: stay flexible, because conditions can change fast. County agencies may shut down roads or popular viewing spots if ash, gas or tephra pick up unexpectedly. As reported by Big Island Now, officials are asking the public to send in ashfall reports and photos to the USGS so scientists can better map where tephra is landing.
What to expect
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory notes that Kīlauea’s recent fountaining episodes tend to be quick hitters. Most last less than 12 hours and are separated by pauses that can run from several days to a few weeks. Episode 43 wrapped up on March 10 after about nine hours of fountaining, scattering tephra into nearby park overlooks and along stretches of Highway 11.
If Episode 44 does kick off within the April 6 to 14 window, scientists expect another short burst of lava fountains, with the potential for ash plumes and scattered tephra downwind. Exactly where that material lands will depend heavily on winds and weather at the time.
How to prepare
Officials urge residents and visitors to sign up for the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s Volcano Notification Service and to follow county and park communication channels for real-time updates on closures and hazard zones. Keep masks, eye protection and a plan to shelter indoors ready in case ashfall or thick vog moves into your area, and take steps now to protect rainwater catchments and animals.
Scientists also rely on community observations. Residents are encouraged to report ashfall and upload photos through HVO’s tephra reporting form so researchers can fine-tune fallout maps and support local emergency managers as they decide when and where to respond.
