Kīlauea alert raised as summit lava fountains expected May 13-14
Kīlauea’s summit alert jumped to WATCH/ORANGE as episode 47 fountains approached, with lava overflows and spattering already building inside Halemaumau.
Lava fountains at Kīlauea’s summit pushed the volcano into a higher alert level as episode 47 of the eruption was expected May 13-14, with recent overflows from the south vent and spattering at the north vent signaling continued unrest inside Halemaumau.
The U.S. Geological Survey raised the alert from ADVISORY/YELLOW to WATCH/ORANGE, a change that matters immediately for anyone planning time in and around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The activity remained confined to Halemaumau, but the orange watch level marked a more serious summit eruption scenario for Volcano-area residents, park visitors, tour operators, and nearby businesses watching for fast-changing conditions.
Recent overflights showed lava in the vents, adding another sign that the summit eruption was active and being closely tracked. That aerial view, along with the observed overflows from the south vent and spattering at the north vent, pointed to a system still building toward another fountaining episode rather than settling down.
For people headed to the park, the practical consequence was uncertainty. Views of the summit could change quickly as fountain activity built or shifted, and the best way to follow the eruption without getting caught in summit congestion was through livestreams set up to monitor the vents in real time. That gives residents and visitors a way to check conditions before committing to a drive, a tour departure, or a sunset stop near the park.
The eruption remained centered at the summit inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but the raised alert level made clear that Kīlauea was still in an active, volatile phase. With episode 47 expected over a two-day window and lava already moving in the vents, the summit stayed under close watch as the next fountain cycle approached.
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