UPDATE: HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT 5pm HST 5-18-2018

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey
Friday, May 18, 2018, 3:59 PM HST (Saturday, May 19, 2018, 01:59 UTC)


KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: RED

Kilauea Volcano Summit

No explosions and no earthquakes greater than magnitude 3.5 have occurred in the summit area in the past day. Background seismic levels have been increasing slowly over the course of the day.

Volcanic gas emissions at the summit remain high.


Kilauea Lower East Rift Zone

The lower (eastern) end of the fissure system is the most active area today. This afternoon, fissure17 is actively spattering and the flow is active but is not covering new ground. In addition, fissures 18, and 20 are active, and the flow from fissure 18 has traveled approximately 0.6 miles in a southeast direction. An area 50-100 yards wide, parallel to and north of the line of fissures between Highway 130 and Lanipuna Gardens, is disrupted with many cracks. This long cracked area is currently being filled by pahoehoe lava flows from fissures 20 and 21. Fissure 15 was active and produced a lava flow that crossed Pohoiki Road between Leilani and Hinalo Streets.

Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated throughout the area downwind of the fissures.

Magma continues to be supplied to the lower East Rift Zone as indicated by the continued northwest displacement of a GPS monitoring station. Elevated earthquake activity continues, but earthquake locations have not moved farther downrift in the past couple of days.

USGS/HVO continues to monitor the lower East Rift Zone activity 24/7 in coordination with Hawaii County Civil Defense, with geologists onsite to track ongoing and new fissure activity and the advance of lava flows.

MORE INFORMATION

Activity Summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8862

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Photos/Video: [link to volcanoes.usgs.gov (secure)]

Lava Flow Maps: [link to volcanoes.usgs.gov (secure)]

Definitions of terms used in update: [link to volcanoes.usgs.gov (secure)]

Overview of Kīlauea summit (Halemaʻumaʻu) and East Rift Zone (Puʻu ʻŌʻō ) eruptions:
[link to volcanoes.usgs.gov (secure)]

Summary of volcanic hazards from Kīlauea eruptions:
[link to volcanoes.usgs.gov (secure)]

Recent Earthquakes in Hawai'i (map and list):
[link to volcanoes.usgs.gov (secure)]

Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes:
[link to volcanoes.usgs.gov (secure)]
[link to pubs.usgs.gov (secure)]

CONTACT INFORMATION:

[email protected]

Last Edited by Master Jedi on 05/18/2018 11:30 PM