Kilauea Eruption Intensifies in Hawaii

Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii remained in a prolonged precursory phase on 14 September 2026, before Episode 55 lava fountaining. The north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu showed continuous spatter bursts overnight on 13–14 September 2026, and the USGS Volcano Alert Level stayed at WATCH with the Aviation Color Code at ORANGE.

Kīlauea Volcano

Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is located on the island of Hawaiʻi in the United States. It is a shield volcano, a type of volcano with broad slopes formed by low-viscosity basaltic lava.

Halemaʻumaʻu Crater

Halemaʻumaʻu is a crater within Kīlauea’s summit caldera, Kaluapele. The north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu has been the focus of recent lava overflows, spatter bursts, and lava fountaining episodes.

Volcanic Monitoring and Alert System

The United States Geological Survey operates the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which monitors Kīlauea and other Hawaiian volcanoes. The USGS uses a Volcano Alert Level system with stages such as NORMAL, ADVISORY, WATCH, and WARNING, and an Aviation Color Code system with GREEN, YELLOW, ORANGE, and RED.

Important Facts for Exams

• Kīlauea is a shield volcano formed mainly by basaltic lava flows.
• Halemaʻumaʻu is located inside Kīlauea’s summit caldera, Kaluapele.
• The USGS Aviation Color Code ORANGE is used for heightened volcanic unrest with increased likelihood of eruption.
• Episode-based lava fountaining is a recurring feature in some Kīlauea eruptions.

Recent Eruption Activity

Between 7 and 12 September 2026, the north vent produced 104 short precursory lava overflows. These overflows formed two main lava flows that extended about 1 kilometre to the south-west and north-east of the vent.

Forecasting and Observation

On 11 September 2026, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded episodic fountaining, incandescence, and intermittent spatter from craters along the south-west margin of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. Forecasting based on inflation patterns was later treated as invalid because the volcano showed unusual behaviour.