Kilauea lava fountaining ends after nearly 6 hours in Halemaumau crater - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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1. 1h ago

   Kilauea Eruption Episode 55 Ends After Six Hours of Fountaining

   Kilauea volcano wrapped up its 55th eruptive episode on Saturday morning after nearly six hours of continuous lava fountaining inside Halemaumau crater. The intense activity from the north vent started at 3:19 a.m. and abruptly ceased at 9:03 a.m. During the short-lived event, lava fountains peaked at a height of 720 feet while sending an ash plume up to 25,000 feet above sea level. Following the shutdown, authorities lowered the USGS Volcano Alert Level from WATCH to ADVISORY and reduced the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to YELLOW.

   Why it matters

   This event marks the 55th eruption of Kilauea since 2024, following a rare two-month pause in volcanic activity. Scientists continue to examine recent fissure vents and magma movements to better understand the summit plumbing system. Short, high-intensity fountaining episodes remain a characteristic feature of this ongoing eruptive cycle at the Hawaiian volcano.

   What is confirmed

   • Episode 55 of the Kilauea summit eruption ended at 9:03 a.m. on Saturday after nearly six hours of continuous lava fountaining.
   • The eruption began at 3:19 a.m. inside Halemaumau crater.
   • The north vent lava fountain reached a maximum height of 720 feet.
   • The eruption plume rose to about 25,000 feet above sea level.
   • The USGS Volcano Alert Level was dropped from WATCH to ADVISORY.
   • The Aviation Color Code was lowered from ORANGE to YELLOW.

   What to watch next

   • Further scientific analysis of the September fissure vents and summit magma source
   • Subsequent changes to the USGS Volcano Alert Level or Aviation Color Code
   • Potential resumption of activity following the end of Episode 55
   Sources used for this update (12)

   1. Honolulu Star-Advertiser — Kilauea lava fountaining ends after nearly 6 hours in Halemaumau crater
   2. Big Island Video News — VOLCANO WATCH: New Lava Fissures, Erupted In September, Examined By Scientists
   3. FOX Weather — See it: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts for 55th time since 2024 after rare two-month pause
   4. Big Island Now — Episode 55 of ongoing Kīlauea eruption lasted less than 6 hours on Saturday morning
   5. Yahoo — Kilauea’s Episode 55 eruption ends after six hours of fountaining
   6. Big Island Video News — High Lava Fountains Return To Kīlauea Volcano Summit
   7. Hawaii Tribune-Herald — Volcano Watch: Where did the September fissure vent lava at Kilauea’s summit come from?
   8. www.staradvertiser.com — Kilauea lava fountaining ends after nearly 6 hours in ...
   9. www.bigislandvideonews.com — Episode 55 Ends After 6 Hours Of Lava Fountaining
   10. www.kitv.com — Kīlauea’s episode 55 ends after six hours of spectacular lava ...
   11. www.zetik.com — Kilauea Ends 6-Hour Episode 55 in Halemaumau After 720-Foot ...
   12. world-today-journal.com — Kilauea Lava Fountaining Ends After Nearly 6 Hours in Halemaumau
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