Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea Summit Eruption’s Episode 14 - March 20, 2025

After a slightly-longer than average pause of 8 days, Kīlauea’s summit eruption continued with its 14th episode of lava fountaining since December 23, 202. The ramp-up to fountaining also took longer than average, with over 21 hours between the first lava flows expelled and the onset of continuous fountains. During this time, 7 lava flows were produced, none lasting more than 10 minutes, while the vents cycled through periods of small dome fountaining and lava drainback. Perhaps related to this unusual build up, tall lava fountains only lasted for just over 7 hours, from 6:30am to 1:50pm today. Fountains again peaked at heights up fo 600 feet or 180 meters, producing flows that covered much of the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. As Episode 14 just recently paused, there is no anticipation of the timing of the next episode quite yet.

Gas emissions and Pele’s hairs carried by the wind remain the greatest threat to people on-island. Episode 14 was dampened by rain around the time of its onset, and favorable trade winds kept emissions largely away from nearby communities, although the weather forecast predicts continued signs of vog along the Kona coast following the latest blast of volcanic emissions. Vog hazards are not new to island residents, and the usual precautions and preparations apply, especially for those with respiratory sensitivities – more information at https://vog.ivhhn.org/.

There is still no significant change in Kīlauea’s rift zones during the ongoing summit eruption, with no major seismicity or ground deformation since more than a week before the current eruption. The volcano’s south flank still shows background seismicity, with no events larger than magnitude 2.5 this week, as well as continuing deep quakes in the Pāhala sector.

Maunaloa continues to inflate quietly its established post-eruption pattern, with only minor adjustments evident on monitoring instruments. As usual, we summarize the monitoring signals, imagery, and reports for both volcanoes available courtesy of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, annotating the presentation on screen as we go and discussing live viewer questions. 

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