(ABOVE VIDEO) Latest map by Hawaii County Civil Defense. The map now shows edge activity and widening as a red line rather than a point.

NEWS BRIEFS

• Lava has not advanced since Monday morning. The lobe on the north side of the flow front is still 0.36 miles from the area of Highway 130 to the west or mauka of the Pahoa Police and Fire Stations. Civil defense says the lobe continues to be active and is widening.
• Smoke conditions were light with a light variable wind blowing the smoke in a west/southwest direction.

CIVIL DEFENSE MESSAGE

Hawaii County Civil Defense audio message issued on Wednesday morning, Jan. 28

PRIMARY SOURCES

This morning’s assessment shows that the original flow front and south margin breakout remain stalled. The breakout along the north side of the flow continues to be active and widening, however showing no signs of advancement. The leading edge or front of this breakout has not advanced since Monday morning and is located approximately .36 miles from the area of Highway 130 to the west or mauka of the Pahoa Police and Fire Stations. Two other breakouts along the north margin located 1-1.5 miles further upslope or behind the flow front showed little activity and no signs of advancement. A number of other breakouts along both margins of the flow and within the flow pad were observed however all current activity does not pose an immediate threat to area communities. The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are maintaining close observations of the flow. Residents and businesses down slope will be informed of any changes in flow activity and advancement.

Smoke conditions were light with a light variable wind blowing the smoke in a west/southwest 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. No brush fire activity was noted this morning and fire conditions will be monitored closely. Hawaii County Civil Defense on Jan. 28 at 7:45 a.m. HST

Kīlauea Volcano continues to erupt at its summit and within its East Rift Zone. Overflight observations this morning indicate that the leading tip of the June 27th lava flow remains roughly 500 m (~550 yd) from Highway 130 in the area west of the Pahoa Fire and Police Stations, and the flow tip has not advanced significantly in the past day. Breakouts continue upslope of the flow tip. No significant changes are noted from Puʻu ʻŌʻō or Kīlauea summit.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: A Civil Defense overflight this morning observed that the leading tip of the June 27th lava flow remains stalled upslope of Highway 130, west of the Pahoa Fire and Police stations. The leading tip of the flow is roughly 500 meters (550 yards) from Highway 130. Breakouts remain active a short distance upslope of the leading tip of the flow, and continue to slowly widen the flow.

An HVO overflight this morning also noted minor continuing surface breakouts in the area of ground cracks, near the abandoned geothermal well site. Webcam images indicate an active breakout roughly 3 km (2 miles) northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, and a short distance north of Puʻu Kahaualeʻa.

Hot spots are evident in the images from the HVO Webcams deployed at Pahoa Marketplace, whether from lava breakouts or fires. They extend across significant fractions of the width of the fields of vision of those cameras.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: No significant changes are noted since yesterday in monitoring data streams from instruments deployed near Puʻu ʻŌʻō. A few persistent incandescent spots are visible in the Webcam images. The Puʻu ʻŌʻō tiltmeter appears to be adjusting from transients resulting from large amounts of rain recently in that area. Sulfur dioxide emissions from all East Rift Zone vents was about 200 tonnes per day, measured on January 7.

Summit Observations: No significant changes are apparent within the Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook vent. The lava lake there continues to episodically spatter, and lava lake levels continue to fluctuate slightly. Measurements on Tuesday to the lava lake surface indicate a depth of roughly 40 m. Emission rates of sulfur dioxide ranged from around 4,500 to 7,600 tonnes/day during the week ending January 13.USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Jan. 28 at 9:30 a.m. HST