(ABOVE PHOTO) This morning’s Civil Defense Lava Flow Map, updated at 7:00 a.m. HST. The red areas on the flow pad are the expanded lava breakouts mapped by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory between November 17 and November 24. The leading edge of those upslope breakouts, mapped by civil defense, are indicated by a yellow circle.

NEWS BRIEFS

• The upslope breakouts remain active on the June 27 lava flow. The breakout closest to Pahoa is 3.2 miles upslope of the Apa’a Street area on the north side of the flow pad.
• Civil defense says all breakout activity does not pose an immediate threat to area communities. In addition, USGS reports the stalled flow front in Pahoa has gone cold. However, officials say flow activity will continue to be monitored.
• The reopening of the Pahoa Village Road is planned for later today and an updated message will be made to inform the community of the road opening.

INSIGHTS

Here is audio from the Wednesday media conference call with civil defense.

PRIMARY SOURCES

This morning’s assessment shows that the upslope breakouts remain active. The breakouts are located approximately 3.2 miles upslope of the Apa’a Street area and consist of surface breakouts and breakouts along the edges or margins of the flow pad. The active and most down slope breakout is located approximately 3.2 miles up slope of the Apa’a street area and along the north side or margin of the flow pad. Presently, all breakout activity does not pose an immediate threat to area communities and the flow activity will continue to be monitored.

Residents in the down slope areas will be kept informed of any changes and 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. The reopening of the Pahoa Village Road is planned for later today and an updated message will be made to inform the community of the road opening.

Civil Defense and public safety personnel will continue 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. 26 at 8 a.m. HST

Kīlauea Volcano continues to erupt at its summit and within its East Rift Zone. Active breakouts are occurring in the upper part of the June 27th flow field and around the crack system near the abandoned geothermal well site. Over the past 24 hours, minor net deflation was recorded by Kīlauea’s summit tiltmeter network, and the level of the summit lava lake has fluctuated according to changes in spattering behavior.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: The lowermost breakouts from the crack system near the abandoned geothermal well site remain active. Between Monday and Tuesday afternoon, the leading edge of the lowermost breakout advanced by about 230 meters (250 yards) along the north and west margins of the now inactive earlier flow. A civil defense overflight on Wednesday morning found that the most downslope breakout was 5.2 km (3.2 mi) above Apaʻa Street. The next HVO overflight is scheduled for Friday afternoon, weather permitting.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: No significant changes were noted near Puʻu ʻŌʻō. The tiltmeter on the north flank of the cone showed little net tilt over the past 24 hours, and seismic tremor remained low. Webcams revealed no strong variations in the pattern of glow from degassing vents or the configuration of the crater floor. GPS-measured deformation across the cone has shown neither extension nor contraction since July. The most recent measurement of sulfur dioxide emissions from the East Rift Zone was about 250 tonnes per day on November 18, 2014.

Summit Observations: Fluctuations in ground tilt at Kīlauea’s summit over the past 24 hours were superimposed on a minor net deflationary trend. The surface height of the lava lake in the Overlook vent rose and fell by small amounts in conjunction with summit tilt and changes in spattering. Volcanic tremor amplitude similarly varied based on spattering activity in the lake. Small amounts of particulate material were carried aloft by the plume. The average emission rate of sulfur dioxide was 4,400 tonnes/day for the week ending on November 18.USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Nov. 26 at 8:44 p.m. HST