Kīlauea Eruption Episode 56 Sends Lava Fountains 650 Feet High

Episode 56 of Kīlauea Summit Eruption Sends Lava Fountains 650 Feet High

Episode 56 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea began at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday, Hawaii News Now reported, sending north vent fountains shooting about 100 feet high before growing rapidly to roughly 650 feet within a span of two hours.

Smaller fountains are simultaneously erupting from the southwest vent within the summit crater. Radar data compiled by the National Weather Service places the resulting volcanic plume at 18,000 feet above sea level.

Northeast Winds Direct Volcanic Plume into Park

Ground-level sensors positioned near the eruptive vents indicate that northeast winds are actively directing the volcanic plume and tephra squarely into the closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. All eruptive activity, including active vents and lava flows, remains strictly confined to the Halemaʻumaʻu crater.

High Lava Fountains Erupt At Kilauea Volcano During Episode 56 (Nov. 5, 2026)

The heaviest tephra fall from the resulting ash clouds is concentrated within a 3-mile (5 km) radius of the vents. Lighter ash particles and Pele’s hair can remain suspended in the atmosphere for much greater distances, prompting officials to encourage public participation in tracking ash movement through the Hawaii Ash reporting form.

Historical Context of Recent Eruptive Episodes

The current phase builds upon a sequence of activity that began on December 23, 2024, with individual episodes typically sustaining themselves for a day or less. Prior to Thursday’s rapid escalation, overflows from the north vent began just after 11 a.m. on Monday morning, leading into continuous low-level fountaining around 2:30 p.m.

Episode 56 of lava fountaining at Kilauea summit underway

Real-time visual monitoring remains accessible to the public and aviation authorities. Live video feeds of the summit lava fountains are broadcast via the USGS YouTube channel, while the KPcam and MKcam networks provide continuous tracking views of the plume height.

Official updates and chronology tracking for the ongoing sequence are cataloged through the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory messages and the broader USGS Kīlauea eruption information portal.