Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea Summit Eruption’s Episode 24 - June 5, 2025

Kīlauea’s summit eruption produced its 24th episode of fountaining lasting over 7 hours between 8:55 pm last night and 4:28 am this morning. This followed another longer than usual pause of 10 days, but once again lava fountains appeared to reach their greatest peaks to compensate, with measurements yet to be released. Flows blanketed much of the western half of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, with large overflows stalling near its center and covering perhaps half of its area with new lava. Both vents were active during episode 24, with the north vent producing higher fountains and volumes of lava, and starting and ending first.

Another massive gas plume drove the high fountains, with early reports of it reaching at least 16,500 feet or 5,000 meters above sea level. The USGS-HVO issued aviation and volcanic activity notices for the episode at the start of precursory activity, at the onset of sustained fountaining, and at the end of the episode. Although of concern for aviation, the higher ejection of gases appears to have limited the impact of vog on the island’s surface, although the growing pile of tephra on the southwest caldera rim attests to the massive fallout of material in the closed areas of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. 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/.

Again following the end of fountains, the volcano is showing early signs of reinflating with magma, although it is too soon for the USGS-HVO to offer a likely time window for episode 25. They suggest that following a similar drop in ground tilt as episode 23, a similar delay of about 10 days might be the early expectation. All activity is confided to Kīlauea’s summit caldera within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, with no increased lava threat to people. There continue to be no significant changes on either of Kīlauea’s rift zones.

Maunaloa continues to inflate quietly its established post-eruption pattern, with only small-magnitude earthquakes and 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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