(ABOVE VIDEO) View on November 17 looking downhill toward the stalled tip of the flow and Pāhoa Village Road, courtesy the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The transfer station is visible in the left of photo with stalled lava just within its boundary.

NEWS BRIEFS

• No activity was observed downslope of the crack system, although “numerous surface breakouts and flows were noted in the areas from the vent to the crack system indicating lava remains in the system” reports civil defense. The nearest surface activity is 5 miles upslope of Apa’a Street.
• Scientists believe the decrease in flow front activity is the result of a lava supply disruption following a large breakout at Puʻu Kahaualeʻa near Puʻu ʻŌʻō, which began overnight on November 14–15.
• Emergency officials have not called it a day. The evacuation advisory for Pahoa residents down slope of the flow will continue. Also, Pahoa Village Road between Apa’a Street and the Post Office Road will remain closed and limited to area residents only.

PRIMARY SOURCES

This morning’s assessment continues to show very little activity along the breakouts and no advancement has been noted since Saturday. Although no activity was observed downslope of the crack system, numerous surface breakouts and flows were noted in the areas from the vent to the crack system indicating lava remains in the system. The nearest surface flow activity and surface breakouts are approximately 5 miles upslope of Apa’a Street.

Smoke conditions are light with a light trade wind blowing the smoke in a south southwest 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. Hawaii County Civil Defense on Nov. 18 at 8 a.m. HST

A geologist is seen taking a sample of molten lava in this USHS HVO photo from Nov. 17. The geologist will quench it in a bucket of cold water to “freeze” the crystalline structure. Lava samples are collected once a week to track the chemistry of the erupted lava over time.