(ABOVE PHOTO) This USGS webcam screen grab is looking west from Pāhoa Marketplace. The image – taken just after sunset – shows the June 27th lava flow advancing from left to right.

NEWS BRIEFS

• The active flow had advanced 50 yards since 6:30 a.m. HST this morning and the front remains approximately .7 miles upslope of the Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road intersection and half a mile from Pahoa Marketplace.
• Railroad Avenue, the first option for an emergency alternate route in case Highway 130 gets overtaken by lava, opened to the public at noon today.

RECENT RELATED VIDEO

This video shows today’s lava overflight courtesy the County of Hawaii, combined with this morning’s Civil Defense message.

PRIMARY SOURCES

This afternoon’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 advance slowly. The active flow had advanced approximately 50 yards since 6:30AM this morning and the front remains approximately .7 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.

The Railroad Avenue alternate access road has been opened for use effective 12:00noon today, Saturday December 20th.. This is to allow for motorists to become familiar with the road and traffic flow. Highway 130 remains open and there is no anticipated road closure at this time.

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. 20 at 5 p.m. HST

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists mapped the location of the leading edge of the June 27th lava flow. Advancement of the flow continued at a slow rate, compared to earlier in the week, and the flow was moving at a rate of about 90 m/d (100 yds/d). The southern branch of the flow remained stalled while the northern branch was an active front about 100 m (110 yds) wide located 0.8 km (0.5 miles) from the west edge of the Pahoa Marketplace and about 1 km from Highway 130, measured in a straight line. A Hawai`i County Civil Defense overflight this afternoon observed about 50 yards of advancement over the past 10 hours.USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Dec. 20 at 5:45 p.m. HST