Hawaiian Volcano Update: Waiting on Episode 36, Kīlauea Summit Eruption - November 6, 2025

After an early first overflow at 9:25 PM on Halloween night, the north vent resumed spilling degassed, sluggish lava early in the morning on Monday, November 3, as Kīlauea’s summit eruption continues with precursory activity before the expected high lava fountains of episode 36. The south vent also began producing overflows on Monday, becoming dominant from early on Tuesday until Wednesday night. Before daybreak this morning, the north vent overflowed three times again, since when all watchers have been eagerly awaiting further activity from the volcano. The forecast window from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory runs from now until Tuesday, November 11, extended as a result of the slowing inflation rate recorded on monitoring instruments. 

High gas emissions are expected at the start and continuing through any high fountaining phase, with variable and decreasing winds potentially facilitating impacts from tephra fallout on overlooks within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Highway 11, 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/.

Episode 36 is quickly approaching, based on the increasing frequency and volume of precursory lava overflows, along with the appearance of low dome fountains up to 30 feet or 10 meters in diameter at the south vent on Wednesday morning. However, “both the passive pond overflows and the dome fountains had very little spattering until drainback, indicating that mostly degassed magma is being erupted at this time” according to USGS-HVO. Once enough of the “gas-poor plug” is poured off, the fresh gas-rich magma below froths upwards to produce the high fountains. 

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 its established post-eruption pattern, including a slight uptick in earthquakes in recent months. 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. 

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