Overview
- The episode began at about 8:22 a.m. HST on Jan. 12 and ended around 6:04 p.m., lasting nearly 10 hours.
- Multiple vents within Halemaʻumaʻu produced sustained lava fountains, reported up to roughly 1,500 feet, with flows spreading across much of the crater floor.
- USGS reported volcanic gas output of roughly 50,000 to 100,000 tons of sulfur dioxide per day, raising the risk of degraded air quality downwind.
- Tephra, including fine volcanic glass known as Pele’s hair, was observed and can irritate skin and eyes.
- Activity stayed confined to the closed summit area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and USGS continues monitoring under an orange Watch during this episodic phase.