Hawaiian Volcano Update: Episode 26 Recap, Episode 27 Precursor Buildup - June 26, 2025

Another week, and another pause in Kīlauea’s episodic summit eruption following episode 26, which ended on June 20 after setting a new fountain height record of about 1,250 feet (380 meters). The updated forecast window for the start of episode 27 lava fountaining is now between June 29 and July 3, although this window may shift based on changes in the rate of summit inflation and other monitoring data. Precursor activities, including intermittent lava spattering at the north vent, have already been observed overnight, and further sustained activity is expected from hours to days before the next full fountaining phase begins.  

Episode 26 itself was brief, starting around 1:40 am on June 20 and lasting roughly nine hours until 10:25 am. The eruption released significant volumes of lava, with vigorous fountains reaching record heights and feeding lava flows that now slowly cool and solidify on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu within the southern portion of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera). Since episode 26 concluded, summit inflation has been ongoing, with the Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) recording over 12 microradians of reinflation following more than 18 microradians of deflation during the episode. However, today there has been a slowdown in the inflation rate that could indicate a longer pause. 

The eruption continues to be confined entirely within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, with no significant activity detected along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. The primary hazards remain volcanic gas emissions—particularly sulfur dioxide (SO₂), water vapor (H₂O), and carbon dioxide (CO₂)—and remobilized windblown volcanic glass known as Pele’s hair throughout the summit region and nearby communities. Current inter-episode gas emissions average around 1,200 tons per day, contributing to vog formation downwind. Residents and visitors, particularly those with respiratory sensitivities, should continue to take standard precautions against vog and tephra exposure, as detailed at https://vog.ivhhn.org/.

Maunaloa continues to quietly inflate following its own established post-eruption pattern, showing minimal seismic activity and minor adjustments detected by monitoring equipment.

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