Hawaiian Volcano Update: Waiting for Kīlauea Summit Eruption’s Episode 29 - July 17, 2025

Following last week’s episode 28 of Kīlauea’s ongoing summit eruption, the volcano has recharged its magma and gas supply, such that the next episode is expected anytime in the next day or two. High gas emissions are expected at the start and continuing through any high fountaining phase, with lighter winds potentially facilitating impacts from tephra fallout on overlooks within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and nearby communities. 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/.

Over the past week, the growing cinder and spatter cone ramping up to the western caldera rim continually slumps back towards the crater floor, a process still ongoing 8 days since the most recent lava fountain. Incandescence from the hot interior of the cone is evident on many nights, while growing cracks upslope release gas from within. All 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 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.