During the early evening of March 4, 2025, USGS scientists captured this view of both the north and south vent erupting lava fountains during episode 12 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. During this episode, lava fountains reached up to 250-300 feet (80-90 meters) in height/USGS, M. Patrick.
The Kīlauea volcano at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park continues to put on a dazzling show, with fountains of lava being spit 400-500 feet into the air.
The current eruption dates to December 23, when lava fountaining was spotted on the Halema'uma'u crater. Episode 13 of the eruption began at 2:36 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time on March 10. Lava fountains reached heights of 400-500 feet (120-150 m) by 3:30 a.m, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff.
Episode 13 was preceded by small, sporadic spatter fountains 15-30 feet high (5-10 m) that began at approximately 1:30 p.m. HST on March 10 within the north vent and continued to increase in intensity until 6:35 p.m. HST when spattering could be seen on the streaming webcam. Spattering continued to increase during the night and into the early morning hours of March 11.
Lava erupted from the north vent at 2:36 a.m. HST and high fountains began about 10 minutes later, the staff reported. Lava flows from the north vent covered 20-30 percent of Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.
Each episode of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since December 23, 2024, has continued for 13 hours to eight days, and episodes have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting less than 24 hours to 12 days.
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