VOLCANO, Hawai‘i – After nearly eight hours of breathtaking volcanic activity, Episode #35 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea Volcano came to an abrupt end early Saturday morning. According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), the south vent ceased erupting at approximately 3:29 a.m. HST, followed three minutes later by the north vent at 3:32 a.m. HST, officially marking the conclusion of one of the most powerful and visually stunning episodes in recent years.
The eruption began around 8:05 p.m. HST on October 17 when vigorous lava fountains shot from the north vent inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. Within 45 minutes, a second vent to the south activated, and both rapidly intensified. By 10 p.m., the south vent was spewing lava nearly 1,500 feet (460 meters) high, while the north vent surged to about 1,100 feet (330 meters), the tallest twin fountains observed since this eruptive sequence began in December 2024.
Over the course of 7.5 hours, the two vents expelled an estimated 13 million cubic yards (10 million cubic meters) of molten lava. HVO scientists calculated a combined average eruption rate exceeding 500 cubic yards (400 cubic meters) per second, with flows from the dual fountains covering roughly two-thirds of the crater floor.
A towering volcanic gas plume climbed more than 16,000 feet (4,900 meters) above the summit, carrying fine volcanic glass fibers known as Pele’s hair downwind toward Highway 11. The Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency advised residents to limit outdoor activity, particularly those with respiratory sensitivities, as vog and airborne particles drifted across Ka‘ū and Puna districts.
Ground sensors at the Uēkahuna tiltmeter recorded a sharp deflation of approximately 28 microradians, signaling a rapid release of pressure from beneath the summit as magma drained during the event.
By sunrise, the fountaining had fully subsided, leaving only glowing vents and cooling lava fields visible from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park overlooks. While emissions have returned to background levels, HVO maintains Alert Level WATCH and Aviation Color Code ORANGE, noting that future episodes could resume with little warning.
Scientists continue to monitor gas emissions, seismic activity, and ground deformation closely. Though the crater floor remains hot and unstable, the eruption’s spectacular finale served as another vivid reminder of Kīlauea’s dynamic and unpredictable nature.
Photo: KWXX
