In the early morning hours of June 1, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists reported to Uēkahuna to watch the beginning of Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 48. The fountaining episode began at 4:40 a.m. HST and by the time the …
When lava shot into the air at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, the fountaining set a new record for the volcano which has been erupting for more than a year.
Big picture view:
The volcano has been erupting off-and-on since December 2024, and this was the 48th time it produced a fountain of lava since it started, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. A spokesperson for the observatory, Katie Mulliken, explained that it is the most episodes ever recorded for a single eruption at that volcano.
Videos and images shared by the U.S. Geological Survey showed recent fountaining events.
This photo of the Halema‘uma‘u north vent lava fountain was captured shortly after sunrise on June 1, 2026, around the time that activity was peaking during Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 48. Preliminary estimates indicate that the lava fountain reached at least 500 feet (150 meters) in height during the episode. Most tephra was falling within the crater and immediately adjacent on the rim, but some lighter particles were lofted higher and greater distances downwind. USGS photo by M. Zoeller. (Courtesy: USGS) Episode 48 of lava fountaining in the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea summit started on June 1, 2026, at 4:40 a.m. HST. This photo was taken shortly after 6 a.m. from Uēkahuna overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and shows the north vent lava fountain. As was the case during episodes 44, 45, 46, and 47, only north vent produced a lava fountain during episode 48. USGS photo by N. Deligne. (Courtesy: USGS) Lava fountains of episode 48 started at 4:40 a.m. HST from the north vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. Lava fountains have reached a maximum height of almost 650 ft (200 m) at their peak, shown here in a photo taken at 06:19 a.m. HST. USGS photo by L. Gallant. (Courtesy: USGS) In the early morning hours of June 1, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists reported to Uēkahuna to watch the beginning of Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 48. The fountaining episode began at 4:40 a.m. HST and by the time the scientists arrived around 5:00 a.m. HST, the Halema‘uma‘u north vent already hosted a lava fountain reaching over 330 feet (100 meters) high. USGS photo by M. Zoeller. (Courtesy: USGS) During episode 48 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea on June 1, 2026, the lava fountain from the north vent reached a maximum height of almost 650 ft (200 m) at its peak around 6:30 a.m. HST. This photo was taken at 8:00 a.m. HST, nearly an hour and a half later, and shows a fountain of around 500 ft (152.5 m). USGS photo by L. Gallant. (Courtesy: USGS) This photo was taken from near the Ka‘ū Desert trailhead within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on June 1, 2026, during episode 48 of lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit. It shows the top of the north vent lava fountain on the skyline to the right and the volcanic plume rising above it. The Ka‘ū Desert Trailhead is about 5.7 miles (9.1 kilometers) west-southwest of Halema‘uma‘u. The fountaining was also audible at that location. USGS photo by N. Deligne. (Courtesy: USGS) Dig deeper:
Kilauea, which is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has not been spewing lava consistently since the eruption began. Fountaining episodes happen between periods in which no lava breaks through. However, because the lava is coming through the same vents in Kilauea’s summit, it is considered the same eruption.
The other side:
Mulliken added that this eruption is especially notable because the location is so accessible for people who want to come and see it. The previous record-holding eruption happened over a three-and-a-half year span but was in a more remote area.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.