Volcanic Alert Levels Raised in Hawaii: Kilauea Eruption Monday

ABOVE - glow from the Kilauea volcano visible from Mauna Kea, HI. Photo Credit: USGS

Update Monday Night from the USGS: "The eruption that began southwest of Kīlauea’s summit at approximately 12:30 a.m. HST this morning, June 3, has paused. However, activity in this region remains dynamic and could change quickly. HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue additional notices as needed."

The alert level for Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has been raised Monday morning as a new eruption started at 12:30 AM HST (5:30 AM EST) on Monday morning. According to the United States Geological Society (USGS), the eruption occurred "likely about a mile (1-2 km) south of Kīlauea caldera and north of the Koa'e fault system and Hilina Pali Road, within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park." This is occurring on the "Big Island" or the Island of Hawai'i. Right now there is no threat to the public as the eruption is contained within the National Park.

There are two types of volcano alerts issued by the USGS, a color scale for aviation impacts and ground-based hazards that range from normal activity to warnings. This morning we were raised from a WATCH to a WARNING for the ground-based hazards meaning "Hazardous eruption is imminent, underway, or suspected" according to the USGS. For the aviation color code which spans from green (no threat) to red (threat underway), the level was upgraded from Orange to Red on Monday morning too.

Right now the eruption glow of lava flow is visible by webcam. According to the USGS, "the most recent eruption in this region was during December 1974, which lasted only about 6 hours." The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) agency will monitor Kilauea for activity and update the alert levels accordingly.

The Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park remains open to the public with some areas closed due to volcanic and seismic activity. Most have been less than a 4.0 in magnitude but the seismic activity is an indication of movement at lower layers of Earth's crust.

Stay with WeatherNation as we monitor volcanic activity in Hawaii!