Kilauea Pauses Between Fountains as USGS Forecasts Episode 53

Kilauea's summit eruption paused again this week. Episode 52 sent lava fountains about 500 feet into the air from the north vent before it ended early on July 29. The U.S. Geological Survey now forecasts the next episode between August 8 and 13. The alert level is Advisory, and a weak glow still shows at the vent.

The lava stays inside a closed part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, so the fountains reach no homes. The hazard travels as gas instead. The summit is venting thousands of tonnes of sulfur dioxide a day, and that becomes the haze called vog downwind. Lighter fragments, including thin strands of volcanic glass called Pele's hair, can settle miles from the vent. If you live near active volcanoes in the US, the eruption you watch on a livestream is also an air quality event that can reach your neighborhood.

Kilauea has erupted in these repeating fountaining episodes since December 2024, so another pause and another episode are the normal rhythm now. A prepared household treats vog the way it treats wildfire smoke: keep N95 respirators in the emergency kit, know which room seals best, and make stored water safe to drink before gas and ash settle. If you have not staged for a summit eruption yet, start with volcanic eruption preparedness.