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Kīlauea Poised to Erupt Again — USGS Warns Episode 37 Could Arrive by Tuesday

Kīlauea is showing renewed activity and may erupt again as early as Tuesday, according to the USGS. Recent observations include summit lava overflows, gas plumes from north and south vents, and lava fountains—some reported up to 1,500 feet. Episode 35 produced a roughly 1,100-foot plume that covered much of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. A Code Orange alert remains in effect due to eruption likelihood and hazards such as volcanic gas, Pele’s hair and falling tephra.

08:35 AM, 11/25/2025Environment
Kīlauea Poised to Erupt Again — USGS Warns Episode 37 Could Arrive by Tuesday

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports renewed activity at Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and warns an additional eruption in the current sequence may occur as soon as Tuesday.

Recent activity

Over the weekend, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory observed periodic lava overflows from Kīlauea’s south vent and dozens of summit-vent overflows beginning Friday morning. Plumes of volcanic gas have been visible from both the south and north vents. USGS modeling identifies the next event in the ongoing sequence as "Episode 37," which could begin within days.

Impressive fountains and crater impacts

Several episodes in the current series have produced dramatic lava fountains, with some fountains reported as high as 1,500 feet. During Episode 35, a plume of roughly 1,100 feet was recorded and expelled enough lava to blanket nearly two-thirds of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor at the Kīlauea summit.

Hazards and alerts

The USGS has issued a Code Orange alert (volcano watch), indicating an eruption is likely or already underway but is expected to produce little or no ash. Authorities warn of several hazards related to this activity:

  • Volcanic gas: Elevated concentrations of sulfur dioxide and other gases can affect air quality downwind and pose health risks for sensitive populations.
  • Pele's hair: Fine strands of volcanic glass formed during fountaining can travel more than 10 miles from vents and irritate skin, eyes and respiratory systems.
  • Tephra and rock fragments: Hot, glassy fragments such as tephra, pumice, scoria and reticulite can fall within roughly 1–3 miles of eruptive vents. Volcanic fragments have previously landed on Highway 11, west of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
  • Ground hazards: Instability, cracking and rockfalls persist around the Kīlauea caldera; that area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has been closed since 2007 for public safety.

What to watch for

Residents and visitors should follow updates from the USGS and local emergency officials, avoid closed areas around the caldera, and be prepared for poor air quality downwind of the volcano. The USGS remains the primary source for forecasts and hazard information as the situation evolves.

Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS)

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