USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-07-01T16:45:12+00:00

Activity Summary:  Kīlauea volcano is not erupting. A seismic swarm that began on June 27 continues just southeast of the summit region, though the earthquake rate has declined from the peak period overnight from June 29–30. Longer-term, gradual inflation of the summit and upper rift zones has persisted since the end of the June 3, 2024, eruption. Any substantial increases in seismicity and/or deformation could result in a new eruptive episode, but there are no signs of an imminent eruption at this time.

Summit and Upper Rift Zone Observations:  There were over 350 earthquakes detected just southeast of the summit region over the past 24 hours, mostly at depths of 1–3 km (0.6–1.8 mi). This represents a continuation of the swarm that began on June 27 beneath the upper East Rift Zone, but in the past day activity shifted marginally back toward the summit, focusing in the area between Keanakākoʻi and Koʻokoʻolau Craters within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The largest of these earthquakes was a magnitude-3.4 event at 5:39 a.m. HST this morning, at a depth of approximately 2 km (1.2 mi).

There were no significant changes in ground deformation over the past 24 hours: the tiltmeter at Uēkahuna northwest of the summit recorded no substantial inflation or deflation, while the tiltmeter at Sand Hill southwest of the summit recorded approximately 2 microradians of deflation. GPS instruments around the summit region continue to show longer-term, gradual inflation since the end of the June 3, 2024 eruption. The most recent measurement of the summit's SO₂ emission rate was approximately 75 tonnes per day on June 28.

Middle and Lower Rift Zone Observations:  Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the middle and lower East Rift Zone and lower Southwest Rift Zone remain low. Recent eruptive activity and ongoing unrest have been restricted to the summit and upper rift zone regions. Measurements from continuous gas monitoring stations downwind of Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle East Rift Zone—the site of 1983–2018 eruptive activity—remain below detection limits for SO₂, indicating that SO₂ emissions from Puʻuʻōʻō are negligible.

Analysis:  Following the eruption on June 3, 2024, magma has been repressurizing the storage system beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the south caldera region, activating earthquakes in the caldera south of Halemaʻumaʻu and in the upper East Rift Zone. At this time, it is not possible to say whether this activity will lead to an intrusion or eruption in the near future, or simply continue as seismic unrest at depth. There are no signs of an imminent eruption at this time.

Previous eruptions and intrusions in the area of ongoing unrest have occurred around Keanakākoʻi and Luamanu Craters at the margin of Kaluapele (Kīlauea's summit caldera), and in the vicinity of Hiʻiaka crater and Pauahi Crater farther to the southeast in the upper East Rift Zone. This region erupted several times during the 1960s–1970s; the most recent eruption took place over a single day in November 1979, within and near to Pauahi Crater.

Currently, there is no indication that magma is moving toward the June 3, 2024, eruption site to the southwest of the summit region. However, changes in the character and location of unrest can occur quickly, as can the potential for eruption.

Updates:  The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) will continue to provide daily updates for Kīlauea volcano. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued.

Recent Eruption Information:  Kīlauea erupted briefly on June 3, 2024, southwest of the summit region within a closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. For more information about this eruption, see this webpage: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/june-2024-kilauea-southwest-rift-zone-eruption.

Hazards:  Hazards remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of the rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since early 2008.

Near the recent Southwest Rift Zone eruption site, minor to severe ground fractures and subsidence features may continue to widen and offset, may have unstable overhanging edges, and should be avoided. Hazards associated with the recent lava flows include glassy (sharp) surfaces that can cause serious abrasions, and lacerations upon contact with unprotected or exposed skin; uneven and rough terrain that can lead to falls and other injuries; or, locally elevated levels of volcanic gases that can lead to breathing difficulty.

For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, please see: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) continues to closely monitor Kīlauea Volcano.

Please see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm.