Kilauea, Hawaii’s most active and closely watched volcano, is entering an intense pre-eruption phase. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says the volcano is showing clear warning signs and could see its 44th eruption within the coming days.
USGS monitoring data places the likely eruption window between April 6 and April 14. Activity inside the volcano has been intensifying steadily, with ground deformation and rising lava movement signaling that an eruption is close.
On Saturday morning, April 5, overflow began at a vent on Kilauea’s southern flank at 6:11 a.m. Lava broke through repeatedly, producing small dome-shaped fountains, with at least ten discrete eruptive events recorded through the morning.
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Kilauea has been erupting intermittently within its summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024. If this next episode proceeds as expected, it will mark the 44th eruption in the current cycle. Historical data shows individual eruptions typically last anywhere from a few hours to a full day, though in some cases lava flows have continued for as long as eight and a half days.
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When the volcano reaches its peak, superheated lava shoots from a churning lava lake, forming fountains exceeding 1,000 feet in height and glowing in shades from deep red to bright yellow. Each year, these eruptions draw large crowds to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The USGS warns that volcanic gases released during eruptive events pose particular risks for people with heart or respiratory conditions, infants, and pregnant women. Volcanic ash is highly abrasive and can irritate the eyes, skin, and airways.