NEWS BRIEFS

• There continues to be no change with any of the down slope flow areas, although breakouts continue upslope, civil defense reports.
• The north margin breakout has not advanced toward the highway but remains active and is widening. The breakout crossed the fire break road to the north on Monday. The leading edge of this breakout is approximately 1 mile to the west or mauka of Highway 130.
• A large breakout near Pu’u O’o was filmed on Monday. There was also activity recorded about a mile and a half downslope of the geothermal pad. Civil defense was unable to assess the summit area and upper slope activity this morning due to low cloud cover and poor weather conditions.
• Smoke conditions were light with a light north wind blowing the smoke in a southeast direction.

LATEST MAP

Civil Defense Lava Flow Map with Imagery – Updated Tuesday, 2/24/15 at 7:00 am

PRIMARY SOURCES

This morning’s assessment continues to show no change with any of the down slope flow areas. Surface breakouts and breakouts along both margins upslope of the flow front continue and provide indication that the tube system continues to be supplied and lava from the source is making its way to the down slope areas. The breakout along the north margin remains active however sluggish and widening and no advancement was noted since yesterday morning. The leading edge of this breakout is approximately 1 mile to the west or mauka of Highway 130. Due to low cloud cover and poor weather conditions an assessment of the summit area and upper slope activity was not possible. 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 and residents and businesses down slope will be informed of any changes in flow activity and advancement.

Smoke conditions were light with a light north wind blowing the smoke in a 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. A light rain was occurring this morning and there is currently no brush fire threat to area communities.

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 Feb. 24 at 7:45 a.m. HST

Civil Defense image from this morning’s overflight shows the breakout along north margin, looking down slope towards Highway 130. The lava crossed the fire break road.

Activity Summary: Kīlauea Volcano continues to erupt at its summit and from its East Rift Zone. The inactive distal tip of the June 27th lava flow remains roughly 500 m (~550 yd) from Highway 130 in the area west of the Pāhoa Fire and Police Stations. Breakouts continue in both the down slope and up slope flow areas. The breakout along the north margin of the stalled flow tip is still active but sluggish, and has not advanced since yesterday morning. The leading edge of this flow is approximately 1.6 km (1 mile) up slope of Highway 130. Activity continues along the new breakout that started from the upper June 27th tube on the north flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Tiltmeters located at the summit have recorded deflationary tilt since yesterday evening.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: During yesterday’s overflight, HVO staff observed that the inactive flow tip remains stalled with scattered breakouts active about 0.45 to 2.7 km (0.3-1.7 mi) up slope of the stalled flow tip. The lobe extending to the north, about 1.6 km (1 mi) up slope from Hwy 130, hosts the most vigorous activity, and has advanced 300 m since February 19. While the flow continues to widen, no advancement has been observed over the past 2 days. The lobe on the south side of the flow, about 870 m (0.5 mi) up slope of Malama Market, is no longer advancing, but hosts a few active breakouts several hundred meters upslope of the stalled front. Activity continues on the new breakout that started from the upper June 27th tube on the north flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. The breakout about 3 km (2 miles) northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō at the forest boundary remains active. Scattered activity also continues west of Kaohe Homesteads in the same general areas that have been active for about the last month, as well as in a slightly down slope area. Observers on a Civil Defense overflight this morning reported no change in any of the down slope flow areas.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: The tiltmeter on the north flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō shows deflationary tilt over the past day. Webcam views show incandescence in the normal locations within the crater. A new pad of lava on the northeast edge of the crater floor, and 2 small lava ponds in areas of normal incandescence were observed during yesterday’s overflight. Seismic tremor has remained low. The rate of sulfur dioxide emission from all East Rift Zone vents was about 200 tonnes per day, measured on January 7 (unfavorable wind and weather conditions have prevented more recent measurements).

Summit Observations: Tiltmeters operating around the summit have recorded deflationary tilt since yesterday evening. The level of lava within the summit eruptive vent dropped slightly over the past day and is estimated at roughly 50 m (165 ft) below the rim of the Overlook crater this morning. Emission rates of sulfur dioxide were measured at 3,300 tonnes/day on February 13. In the summit caldera, a small swarm of long period earthquakes began after the onset of summit deflation yesterday evening. These earthquakes are located about 10 km (6 mi) deep with a maximum magnitude of 2.3. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Feb. 24 at 10:30 a.m. HST

THE LATEST: June 27 lava flow archive