Fissure 8 reactivated on the afternoon of May 28, when, at times, lava fountains were reaching heights of 200 feet and feeding a lava flow that advanced to the northeast. (image: HVO / USGS)
High effusion rates continue to characterize the ongoing eruption, which has largely focused on the fissure #8 vent in the western portion of the fissure system, near the intersection of Luana St and Leilani Blv.
HVO reported that the eruption at Kilauea's Lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) and at Overlook Crater within Halema`uma`u Crater continued during 30 May-6 June. Lava fountaining and spatter was concentrated at Fissure 8, feeding lava flows that spread through Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, and reached the ocean at Kapoho Bay. Fissures 22, 6, and 13 were periodically active on 30 May, and fissures 6/13 spattered on 4 June.
Kilauea's lower east rift zone overflight on Monday, May 28, 2018, 5:45 am, with Paradise Helicopters and Extreme Exposire. Fissures 8 and 24 were the only ones actively erupting but it seemed that the volume from other fissures was also being released at this location where a massive flow was on the move and consumed a dozen houses while the helicopter was hovering there. (image: Karyn Spencer)
, the area of Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens was the scene vigorous eruption of lava also throughout Monday 28 May.
Thermal map of fissure system and lava flows as of 1:15 pm on Monday, May 28, 2018. The flow from Fissure 8 that reached Pohoiki Rd. this morning stalled, though activity restarted at Fissure 8 in the afternoon shortly after this map was made. The channelized flows that had reached the ocean were inactive today - a small amount of residual lava was draining from the abandoned eastern channel into the ocean, creating a weak ocean entry plume. Fissure 22 restarted today with lava starting to reoccupy the drained channel. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map. Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas. (HVO/USGS)
28 May 2018 updated fissures and lava flow map and thermal image of the ongoing eruption of Kilauea in the East Rift Zone (HVO/USGS)
Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone fissures and flows map as of 3:00 p.m. HST, May 28, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted—and could have changed rapidly since that time. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015. (HVO/USGS)
Large lava flows from fissure #7 in the western-central part of the Leilani fissure system moving NE. View is towards SE onto the eastern and southern part of Leilani Subdivision (image: Bruce Omori / facebook)
The eruption continues at similar levels as during the past days, with conditions changing faster than it is possible to accurately update.
Mon, 28 May 2018, 10:15
Sun, 27 May 2018, 17:15
Sun, 27 May 2018, 08:08
Thermal map of the fissure system and lava flows at the Leilani eruption site as of 12:15 pm on Friday, May 25. The two channelized lava flows are still reaching the ocean. In addition, a lava flow is active near Fissure 7 and slowly moving towards the northeast. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map. Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas. (HVO/USGS)
Vigorous eruption of lava continues from the
lower East Rift Zone fissure system in the area of Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens, with almost 2400 acres having been covered by new lava. Fissures 22, 6, and 13 are feeding lava flows moving southeast to the coast southwest of Pohoiki where they sustain two acitve lava ocean entries. Fissures 7 and 21 are feeding an 'a'ā flow that has advanced to the northeast and this afternoon crossed Pahoa Pohoiki Road onto PGV property. (HVO/USGS)
Lava flow and fissures map of the Leilani eruption site as of 3:00 p.m. HST, May 26. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015. (HVO/USGS)
Sun, 27 May 2018, 00:15
Sat, 26 May 2018, 20:46
Overflight image on Friday 25 May, 2018, showing fissures 6 (left) and 13 (right) and their lava flows which merge into one channel that flows into the ocean (note the plume in the distance at the ocean entries - top left). (HVO/USGS)
Eruption of lava continues in the area of Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens, at the lower part of Kilauea's
East Rift Zone. On Saturday morning 26 May (local time) HVO/USGS report that fissure 22 continues to erupt lava that is flowing southeast to the coast and which feeds the first lava ocean entry. Fountains at fissures 6 and 13 also continue to feed lava into a channel that reaches the coast which formed a second ocean entry a few days ago.
Read allSat, 26 May 2018, 07:00
Fri, 25 May 2018, 14:30
Fri, 25 May 2018, 11:45
Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows Map as of 23 May 2018, 2:20 p.m. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015. (HVO/USGS)
24 May 2018 updated fissures and lava flow map and thermal image of the ongoing eruption of Kilauea in the East Rift Zone (HVO/USGS)
This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 12:15 pm on Thursday, May 24. Two channelized lava flows are reaching the ocean. In addition, a new lava flow is active in Leilani Estates subdivision, near Fissure 7. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map. Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas. (HVO/USGS)
Fri, 25 May 2018, 11:39
Blue burning flames of methane gas was observed in the cracks on Kahukai Street close to the active fissure, during the night from 22 to 23 May 2018. When lava buries plants and shrubs, methane gas is produced as a byproduct of burning vegetation. (HVO/USGS)
The impressive eruption that started at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, since early May is still going on! During the night from 22 to 23 May, the
lower East Rift Zone eruption site produced most robust volcanic activity from the middle portion of the fissure system, with the most active fissures have been 22,19, 6, 5, and 23. The ocean entry remained very active and sometimes created small explosions. A very interesting observation was that of methane gas burning in blue flames in the cracks of Kahukai Street, on May 22, around 11:30 PM. When hot lava buries plants and shrubs, methane gas is produced as a byproduct of burning vegetation. This methane gas can seep into subsurface voids and explode when heated or emerge from cracks in the ground several feet away. When ignited, the methane produces a blue flame.
Read allThu, 24 May 2018, 21:15
Thu, 24 May 2018, 04:15
Wed, 23 May 2018, 13:45
Wed, 23 May 2018, 13:27
Lava flow map as of 11:00 a.m. HST, May 22. The flow field has not expanded significantly during the past day because most of erupted lava moved southward through the active lava channels and into the ocean. Note a new lava flow that was observed during this morning's overflight west of the active channels (see label). There was a single ocean entry this morning. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015. (HVO/USGS)
22 May 2018 updated lava flow map and thermal image of the ongoing eruption of Kilauea in the East Rift Zone (HVO/USGS)
This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 06:45 am on Tuesday, May 22. The primary lava flow originates from Fissure 22, but a new flow has been active over the past day from the Fissure 6 area. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map. Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas. The thermal map was constructed by stitching many overlapping oblique thermal images collected by a handheld thermal camera during a helicopter overflight of the flow field. (HVO/USGS)
Wed, 23 May 2018, 10:13
Aerial view of erupting fissure 22 and lava channels flowing southward from the fissure during an early morning overflight on 21 May. ( Photo : Volcano Helicopters)
On the Big Island of Hawai'i, Kilauea's activity proceeds without any signs of weakening. Eruption of lava and ground cracking continues in the area of Leilani Estates subdivision in the
Lower East Rift zone. Monday 21 May lava was being erupted from multiple points along the northeast end of the active fissure system. HVO/USGS reported that whilst fissures 6, 17 and 19 only showed intermittent spattering, fissure 20 was erupting a short line of low lava fountains feeding a channelized lava flow that reached the coast. By the evening of 21 May there was only a single lava ocean entry left. Over the course of Tuesday 22 May, most eruptive activity in the Lower East Rift Zone shifted to the middle portion of the system of fissures. Lava fountains were being ejected from fissures 6 through to fissure 22 and some weak spattering occurred from fissures 5, 6, 17 and 19. A new area of fountaining started in the afternoon along the fissure line between Kaupili and Mohala Streets near Fissure 23.
Read allWed, 23 May 2018, 06:00
HVO reported that the eruption at Kilauea's Lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) and at Overlook Crater within Halema`uma`u Crater continued during 23-29 May. Lava fountaining and spatter was concentrated in the middle portion of the fissure system, feeding lava flows that spread through Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, and also traveled to the ocean.
Read allTue, 22 May 2018, 20:45
Tue, 22 May 2018, 05:00
Mon, 21 May 2018, 12:16
Lava flows from the Fissure 20 complex move downslope and enter the ocean. Lava can be seen in the middle of the channel. A laze plume hides the point of ocean entry. (HVO/USGS)
Throughout Sunday 20 May, Kilauea's eruption continued at a moderate level along the northeast end of the active fissure system at the
lower east rift zone. In the early afternoon, HVO reported that there was still active spattering from fissures 6 and 17. At the same time large lava flows continued to be erupted from fissure 20, two of which reached the ocean the previous night. A new development occurred early in the morning of 20 May when a large crack opened up underneath the east lava flow feeding the ocean entry, diverting the lava from the channel into underground voids. By flowing into the crack, lava in the easternmost channel has diminished and the flow into the ocean is less vigorous. A similar situation happened in 2011, when lava from the Kamoamoa fissure eruption near Pu'u 'O 'o poured into a crack in the ground, never to re-emerge at the surface.
Read allMon, 21 May 2018, 10:30
Sun, 20 May 2018, 21:52
Updated map of lava flows with ocean entry points (image: HVO / USGS)