(ABOVE VIDEO) Video mapping and documenting the numerous breakouts on the flow field, footage courtesy the County of Hawaii and Mick Kalber. Civil Defense reports these breakouts are more sluggish this morning and have not advanced.

NEWS BRIEFS

• Yesterday’s breakouts remain active however civil defense says they are very sluggish and not advancing at this time.
• Smoke conditions are moderate with a light trade wind blowing the smoke in a south southeast direction.

PRIMARY SOURCES

This morning’s assessment shows that several breakouts remain active however very sluggish and not advancing at this time. The active breakouts are located in the area of the cemetery below Apa’a Street along the south side of the flow; above Apa’a Street in the area west or upslope of the transfer station; and approximately 200 yards upslope of Apa’a Street to the north of the transfer station. The breakouts currently do not pose an immediate threat to area residents and will be monitored closely. All burning with breakouts is limited to vegetation only.

Smoke conditions are moderate with a light trade wind blowing the smoke in a south southeast direction. Smoke conditions may increase in some areas and residents down wind that may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take necessary precautions and to remain indoors.

The evacuation advisory for those residents down slope of the flow will continue and residents will be kept informed of the flow status and advancement.

The Pahoa Village Road between Apa’a Street and the Post Office Road will remain closed and limited to area residents only. Access to the businesses and commercial areas of the Pahoa town can be made through the Pahoa Village Road at the intersection of Highways 130 and 132 and the Post Office Road. We apologize for any inconvenience the road closure may be presenting with and remind everyone that the Pahoa town center and businesses are open and accessible.

Civil Defense and public safety personnel will be operating in the area round the clock to maintain close observations of flow activity.

Additional updates will be posted as conditions change.

We would like to thank everyone for your patience and understanding and your cooperation and assistance is greatly appreciated.Hawaii County Civil Defense on Nov. 16 at 7:30 a.m. HST

Lava crosses Apa’a Street on the south side of the flow, courtesy County of Hawaii (Nov. 15)

Kīlauea volcano continues to erupt at its summit and within its East Rift Zone. Lava breakouts remain active and continue to advance in areas behind the leading edge of the June 27th lava flow that stalled on October 30. These active breakouts are below Apaʻa Street in the area of the cemetery, and several areas upslope of Apaʻa Street. A new breakout from the June 27th lava tube has occurred over the past day about 1.6 km (1 mile) northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Kīlauea’s summit has had slight inflationary tilt over the past day, and the level of the summit lava lake at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater was relatively steady.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists conducted fieldwork Saturday to assess the progress of the lava flow. The leading edge of the flow had not advanced beyond where it stalled on October 30, in a residential area approximately 155 meters (170 yards) above Pāhoa Village Road, but breakout activity continued in areas upslope of this leading edge. The closest active lava to Pāhoa Village Road was located approximately 650 meters (0.4 miles) upslope of Pāhoa Village Road, near the Pāhoa cemetery. The lobe of the lava flow upslope of the transfer station remained active, and was approximately 180 meters (200 yards) above Apaʻa Street yesterday afternoon. This lobe has widened over the past two days. Scattered breakouts persist upslope of Cemetery Rd./Apaʻa St., up to 2.7 km (1.7 miles) upslope of Cemetery Rd./Apaʻa St. In addition, pilot reports and sporadic webcam views indicate a new breakout began over the past day from the June 27th lava tube roughly 1.6 km (1 mile) northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, near the small forested cone of Kahaualeʻa. Webcam views show continued activity on this breakout through the past night.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: No significant changes were noted near Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Seismic tremor continued with relatively steady amplitude, and webcams revealed no strong variations in the pattern of glow from degassing vents nor the configuration of the crater floor. Recently HVO scientists have observed small incandescent openings in the north, northeast, south, and southeast pits in Puʻu ʻŌʻō’s crater. The tiltmeter at Puʻu ʻŌʻō showed no significant changes over the past day. The GPS-measured length across the cone has not changed significantly since July. No earthquakes were recorded from the vicinity of Puʻu ʻŌʻō in the past day. The most recent measurement of sulfur dioxide emissions from the East Rift Zone was 320 tonnes per day on October 31, 2014.

Summit Observations: Slight inflationary tilt continued over the past day. The surface height of the lava lake in the Overlook vent was relatively steady. Volcanic tremor persisted at fluctuating amplitudes based on spattering activity in the lake. Small amounts of particulate material were carried aloft by the plume. Summit emissions of sulfur dioxide were measured at 6,200 tonnes/day on November 5 (see caveat below), but winds did not allow for repeated measurement through the week-long period ending November 11, 2014. Several small earthquakes were recorded around the summit and upper east rift zone.USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Nov. 16 at 7:47 a.m. HST

This small-scale USGS map shows the June 27th lava flow in Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone in relation to lower Puna