Hawaiian Volcano Update: USGS Update, Awaiting Kīlauea’s Episode 40 - January 8, 2026

As we resume our coverage following the holiday break, Kīlauea’s summit eruption continues but is currently in a pause following episode 39, which burst forth on December 23, 2025 on the 1-year anniversary of the eruption and lasted just under 6 hours. Fountains from the south and north vents reached 1,400 feet or 425 meters and 900 feet or 275 meters, respectively, with the north vent fountain again split to create a triple fountain for much of the later part of the episode. Lava flows covered roughly 60% of the crater floor, with a total estimated output of 9.3 million cubic meters. In the weeks since, the volcano has re-inflated to the point where episode 40 is expected in the new few days, with the most likely window between January 10 and 14. Since the end of episode 39, both vents continue their typical degassing of 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes of SO2 per day. For the expected episode 40, 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/. Today’s special presentation is part of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s Volcano Awareness Month, with Scientist-In-Charge Ken Hon providing an update and context for the year-long eruption, recorded today in Waikoloa. We will review episode 39 in more depth in the upcoming weeks, as well as future Volcano Awareness Month presentations. Maunaloa continues its long-term post-eruption filling pattern, with the caldera slowly stretching and rising, accompanied by earthquakes. 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.