Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea Summit Eruption’s Episode 29 - July 24, 2025

Episode 29 of Kīlauea’s ongoing summit eruption began and ended last Sunday, July 20, following a longer than average 11-day pause. Erupting from the north vent over 13 hours from 5:15 AM to 6:35 PM, fountains were lower than usual, no higher than 215 feet or 65 meters, but produced a larger than average volume of lava – 6.7 million cubic meters – that covered about 80% of Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. The south vent, inactive and buried by fallout during the previous episode, reactivated with spattering and low fountaining less than 30 feet or 10 meters high between about 6 AM and noon. 

Gas emissions and tephra fallout were mostly limited in impact within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, although communities farther downwind continue to live with persistent vog. 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/. All eruptive activity has been confined 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 minor or localized 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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