(ABOVE MAP) Civil Defense Lava Flow Map – Updated Friday, 12/19/14 at 7:00 am

NEWS BRIEFS

• The narrow flow front advanced 130 yards since yesterday morning at 6:30 am and the front remains 0.8 miles upslope of the Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road intersection.
• Smoke conditions in the immediate area were moderate to heavy with a light trade wind blowing the smoke in a south/southeast direction.
• Although the flow front appeared to be forming to branches, HVO observers reported this morning that the southern branch of the flow had stalled but the north branch remains active. The north branch is expected to follow the path of steepest decent into the Pahoa Marketplace, should it continue to advance.
• Yesterday, Governor David Ige spent the day in Puna, and spoke during last night’s public meeting in Pahoa. Also at the meeting: USGS HVO scientist Steve Brantley made a presentation, and Mayor Billy Kenoi announced Railroad Avenue will open at noon on Saturday.

RECENT RELATED VIDEO

This video contains yesterday evening’s Civil Defense message (Thursday, Dec. 18) and footage shot the same day (Thursday, Dec. 18)

PRIMARY SOURCES

This morning’s assessment shows that the flow front remains active and continues to advance in an east-northeast direction. The flow front remains narrow and continues to slow. The active flow had advanced approximately 130 yards since yesterday morning at 6:30 am and the front remains approximately 0.8 miles upslope of the Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road intersection. Current activity does not pose an immediate threat to area communities and Civil Defense and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory personnel are maintaining close observations of the flow. Residents and businesses down slope will be kept informed of any changes in flow activity, advancement, and status. As the flow activity continues to show signs of advancement, businesses in the Pahoa Market Place are taking necessary steps to prepare for a possible evacuation. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and to be prepared for increased traffic and large vehicles in the area.

Smoke conditions in the immediate area were moderate to heavy with a light trade wind blowing the smoke in a south/southeast direction. Smoke conditions may increase in some areas and individuals who may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take necessary precautions and to remain indoors.

Additional updates will be broadcast as conditions change.

On behalf of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency and our partners we would like to thank everyone for your assistance and cooperation. Hawaii County Civil Defense on Dec. 19 at 8:30 a.m. HST

Kīlauea Volcano continues to erupt at its summit and within its East Rift Zone. A lava flow front consisting of north and south branches remains generally active, although the southern branch appears to have stalled as of this morning. The flow front has advanced ~120 m (~130 yds) since yesterday morning according to Civil Defense. The leading edge of this front is approximately 1.3 km (0.8 miles) above the intersection of Pāhoa Village Road and Highway 130, near the Pāhoa Marketplace. The summit deflation event that began Wednesday evening turned around Thursday morning. No significant tilt has been observed at Puʻu ʻŌʻō since yesterday’s report.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO, along with Civil Defense, is monitoring a flow front that branches off the west edge of the flow field below the crack system. Civil Defense reported this morning that the leading edge of the active flow was about 1.3 km (0.8 miles) upslope from the intersection of Pāhoa Village Road and Highway 130, near the Pāhoa Marketplace. HVO observers reported this morning that the southern branch of the flow had stalled but the north branch remains active. The descent path of the active north branch, if it continues to be followed, would take it to the Pāhoa Marketplace. In addition to this active flow front, breakouts from the lava tube on December 5, about 2.6 km (1.6 mi) from Puʻu ʻŌʻō remain active. Several other breakouts, scattered along the edges and interior of the flowfield from 2 to 3.7 km (1.2 to 2.3 miles) with advancements of up to about 200 meters (220 yards) were also mapped by HVO personnel during yesterday’s overflight.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: No significant change in ground tilt has been observed in the past 24 hours, and overall for the last week ground tilt measured at the cone has been minor and deflationary. Two hot openings were observed in each of northeast and south pits within the crater during yesterday’s HVO overflight. All other monitoring data indicate no significant changes at Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Seismic tremor is low and steady, and 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 no net extension nor contraction since July. The most recent measurement of sulfur dioxide emissions from the East Rift Zone was about 300 tonnes per day on December 11, 2014.

Summit Observations: A tiltmeter at Kīlauea’s summit recorded the turnaround of the summit deflation that began Wednesday night; inflation restarted at about 10:00 yesterday morning and has regained about half the tilt that was lost in the DI event. The summit lava lake has shown the usual fluctuations associated with changes in spattering behavior, which are also manifested as variations in tremor amplitudes and gas release. Small amounts of particulate material were carried aloft by the plume. The average emission rate of sulfur dioxide ranged between 3,100 and 6,500 tonnes/day for the week ending on December 16.USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Dec. 19 at 9:13 a.m. HST