(ABOVE PHOTO) Inset from the latest map published by Hawaii County Civil Defense

NEWS BRIEFS

• The lava flow front has advanced 85 to 110 yards since yesterday.
• Light to moderate smoke is being reported in the area due to burning trees. There are light trade wind out of the northeast.

INSIGHTS

The summit of Kilauea volcano has undergone a deflation phase which ended at 1 p.m. Monday with no stall in the advance of the lava flow. When the flow stalled a few weeks go, it was coincident with summit deflation.

Yesterday for the first time, through the State Department of Health, certain residents were advised to relocate. “Residents dependent on medical services, treatment, or supplies and who live in communities that may be cut off by the advancing lava flow to relocate outside the affected area to ensure continued access to necessary medical support,” civil defense reported on behalf of the DOH. “If the lava flow crosses Highway 130, medical services and supplies will be severely limited and emergency medical service response time may be significantly delayed.”

PRIMARY SOURCES

This morning’s assessment shows that the flow front continues to be active and has advanced approximately 85 yards since yesterday. The narrow flow front is moving along the tree line and the burning activity is producing a significant amount of smoke. Smoke conditions in the area were light to moderate with a light trade wind out of the northeast.

Current flow activity does not pose an immediate threat to area communities and no evacuation is needed at this time. Area residents will be given adequate notice to safely evacuate should that be necessary.

The public is reminded that the flow is not visible and cannot be accessed from any public areas. Access to the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision will remain restricted to area residents only.

Due to the uncertainty of the flow and possible impact on the community, the State Department of Health has issued the following advisory:

Residents dependent on medical services, treatment, or supplies and who live in communities that may be cut off by the advancing lava flow to relocate outside the affected area to ensure continued access to necessary medical support. If the lava flow crosses Highway 130, medical services and supplies will be severely limited and emergency medical service response time may be significantly delayed.

With the unpredictable nature of the lava flow, residents and visitors are advised to listen to Hawaii County Civil Defense updates and advisories.

We would like to thank everyone for your patience and understanding and your cooperation and assistance is greatly appreciated.Hawaii County Civil Defense on Oct. 8

The June 27th lava flow remains active. Satellite data and a Civil Defense overflight on Wednesday morning found that the leading edge of the June 27th lava flow has advanced approximately 80-100 m (85-110 yards) to the northeast since yesterday’s observation. HVO plans to conduct an overflight of the entire June 27th lava flow field later on Wednesday.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: There was little net change in ground tilt at Puʻu ʻŌʻō over the past day. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor. At approximately 12:15 pm yesterday, lava flowed onto the floor of Puʻu ʻŌʻō for a brief period. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 550 tonnes per day (from all sources) on September 25, 2014. Seismic tremor is low and constant.USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Oct. 8

From USGS HVO: “This map uses a satellite image acquired in March 2014 (provided by Digital Globe) as a base to show the area around the front of the June 27th lava flow. The area of the flow on October 3, 2014, at 9:20 AM is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as mapped on October 6 at 12:15 PM is shown in red. The flow front advanced about 360 m (390 yd) since our October 3, 2014, overflight. This puts the flow front about 1.7 km (1.1 mi) directly upslope from Apaʻa Street. The distance is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) when measured along the path of steepest-descent.
The blue line and arrowhead shows the projected path of the flow over the next 10 days (to October 16), based on the steepest-descent path and the average advance rate of 120 m/day (130 yd/day) achieved since October 3. This projection is subject to change because the amount of lava erupted from the June 27th vent, and the advance rate of the resulting lava flow, have been variable. The flow could speed up or slow down; the flow front could stall again, and a new active flow front could start again farther upslope; or the flow could stop altogether.”