Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea Summit Eruption Post-Ep 41 & Volcanology 101 - February 5, 2026

Following episode 41 of Kīlauea’s ongoing summit eruption, activity has been paused for 12 days as the volcano recharges for its next round, currently projected between February 11 and 16 based on current monitoring data according to the USGS-HVO. Sporadic glow and occasional flames have been visible from the vents in night-time webcam views, while daytime views have commonly been obscured by vog. Continuing light and variable winds are expected until this weekend, which combined with higher-than-usual emissions of around 5000 tonnes of SO2 per day suggest that vog impacts on nearby communities may continue for a few more days.

As Volcano-area residents continue their cleanup of episode 41’s tephra fallout, a weather front approaching from the north may bring some much-wished-for heavy rain to the area towards the start of next week. Equally important to impacted residents, the trade winds are currently forecast to persist through the week, reducing the chances of a repeat fallout during the anticipated episode 42 around that time. Vog and tephra remain the most common hazards for island residents, and the usual precautions and preparations apply, especially for those with respiratory sensitivities – more information at https://vog.ivhhn.org/.

Our special presentation this week is “Volcanology 101” by Dr. Lis Gallant of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, part of the USGS-HVO’s 2026 Volcano Awareness Month recorded on January 29 at the Volcano Art Center. Highlights of the discussion are what causes volcanoes to erupt, why volcanoes have different shapes, and why some eruptions are explosive while others produce only lava flows.

Maunaloa continues its long-term post-eruption filling pattern, with the caldera slowly stretching and rising. As usual, we summarize the monitoring signals, imagery, and reports available courtesy of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, annotating the presentation on screen as we go and discussing live viewer questions.