🌋Kīlauea eruption episode 47 summary
Episode 47 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park stopped at 12:27 am HST May 15 after 9 hours of lava fountaining.
🌋 Lava flowed from the south vent about 75 times in the 12 hours before episode 47, but only the north vent produced a lava fountain (up to 650 ft/200 m) during the episode. The south vent continued to overflow for a couple of hours, diminishing over time to spattering and then only flames. An estimated 6.2 million cubic yards (5.2 million cubic meters) of lava spilled across Halemaʻumaʻu, covering nearly half of the crater floor with new lava.
💨 The eruptive plume rose to about 20,000 ft (6,000 m) above sea level; weak winds as the episode peaked allowed the plume to rise vertically, causing tephra to fall around Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera). Most tephra fell within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, but sparse reticulite up to 3 inches (5 centimeters) in size fell at both the Uēkahuna and Keanakākoʻi overlooks. Fine ash and Peleʻs hair fell in communities to the northeast.
⛔️ The USGS kept the Kīlauea alert level/aviation color code at WATCH/ORANGE throughout the episode because fallout was not extensive and did not last very long. After the episode ended, USGS lowered Kīlauea to ADVISORY/YELLOW reflecting that volcanic activity had decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.
Kīlauea summit region inflation since the end of episode 47 indicates that another fountaining episode is possible; however, more time is needed to collect data to generate the model to forecast episode 48.
📹 Video clips show Kīlauea episode 47 lava fountaining on May 14, 2026.
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Kīlauea Eruption Update — Episode 46 of Kīlauea summit lava fountaining began at 8:17 a.m. HST today, May 5, and is ongoing.
This eruption is taking place within Kīlauea summit caldera in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Lava fountains at the north vent are currently about 350 feet (100 meters) high. National Weather Service forecasts light and variable winds becoming southeast this morning, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed throughout Kīlauea summit region and north/northwest of Halemaʻumaʻu. The National Weather Service Honolulu Forecasting Office has issued an Ashfall Advisory for the southeast and east side of the Island of Hawaiʻi. Fountaining episodes typically last 12 hours of less, but ash can remain in the air for longer depending on wind and weather conditions. Please stay aware of hazards and rely on official updates from USGS, National Weather Service, and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
🎥 Video of episode 46 at 8:30 a.m. HST on May 5, 2026.
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