Overview

• USGS said lava began fountaining at 6:35 a.m. HST on Sept. 2 from Halemaʻumaʻu’s north vent, later involving additional vents, and the episode ended at 8:01 p.m. HST.
• Measured fountain heights reached roughly 100–150 meters, with a convective plume lofting gas and fine particles above the summit area.
• All activity stayed within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, with HVO reporting no signs of unrest on the East or Southwest Rift Zones and maintaining Alert Level Watch and Aviation Color Code Orange.
• The National Weather Service and HVO warned of elevated sulfur dioxide, vog, and fallout of Pele’s hair and other glassy fragments that can irritate eyes and skin and affect air quality downwind.
• Scientists consider these bursts part of one ongoing eruption since December via a persistent pathway, note recent fountains are shorter—possibly from a widened vent—and say the longer‑term evolution remains uncertain.