(ABOVE PHOTO) This USGS HVO image, taken on Thursday, shows a lava burst from an inflated tumulus – or domed hill – 35 yards downslope from the cemetery in Pahoa.

NEWS BRIEFS

• Civil defense is watching several active breakouts on the flow field located in the area of the cemetery below Apa’a Street, above Apa’a Street upslope of the transfer station, and 300 yards upslope of Apa’a Street.
• The breakout near the transfer station has stopped flowing and is not active at this time. No asphalt is burning.

PRIMARY SOURCES

This morning’s assessment shows that several breakouts remain active and continue to advance These breakouts are located in the area of the cemetery below Apa’a Street; above Apa’a Street in the area west or upslope of the transfer station; and 300 yards upslope of Apa’a Street. The breakouts currently do not pose an immediate threat to area residents and will be monitored closely. The breakout near the transfer station has stopped flowing and is not active at this time. There is no burning asphalt at this time and all other burning with other breakouts is limited to vegetation only.

Smoke conditions are currently moderate to heavy with a light south wind blowing the smoke in a north northeast direction towards the Ainaloa, Hawaiian Paradise Park and Keaau areas. 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 weather service has forecasted continued south winds for the next few days.

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 broadcasted as conditions change.Hawaii County Civil Defense on Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m. HST

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. Kīlauea’s summit has had inflationary tilt over the past day, and the level of the summit lava lake at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater fluctuated slightly.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists conducted fieldwork Thursday 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 500 meters (550 yards) upslope of the stalled flow front, below the Pāhoa cemetery. Breakouts at the transfer station were stalled yesterday. The lobe of the lava flow farther upslope of the transfer station remained active, and was approximately 300 meters (330 yards) above Apaʻa Street yesterday.

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 slight inflationary tilt. 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: Inflationary tilt continued through much of the past day, reaching a plateau around midnight. The surface height of the lava lake in the Overlook vent rose slightly over the past day. 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. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Nov. 14 at 10:27 a.m. HST