Warning level for Kīlauea volcano raised from “warning” to “watch”

from an interactive USGS map showing the location of the recent earthquakes, mostly below the caldera south of Halemaʻumaʻu, as of Sunday evening

(BIVN) – Kīlauea is not erupting. However, due to the dramatic increase in earthquakes and ground deformation in the summit area, which began on Sunday afternoon, the authorities have raised the alert level for the volcano on the Hawaiian island.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory upgraded the volcano alert level for ground-based hazards from ADVISORY to WATCH and the Aviation Color Code from YELLOW to ORANGE at 5:31 p.m. HST.

“Increased earthquake activity and ground deformation at the summit of Kīlauea began at approximately 12:00 noon HST on June 2, 2024, indicating likely movement of magma underground,” the HVO scientists wrote. “Seismicity and deformation rates continued to increase after 5:00 p.m. HST. At this time, it is not possible to say with certainty whether this activity will result in an eruption – the activity could remain underground. However, an eruption in the summit region of Kīlauea in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a possible outcome.”

According to scientists, current activity is limited to the summit region. Seismicity and ground deformation beneath the East Rift Zone and the Southwest Rift Zone remain low.

From the HVO/USGS volcanic activity report released on Sunday evening:

Eruptive activity at Kīlauea’s summit has occurred in recent years at the base of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and on the fallen block within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park exclusion area. During eruptions at Kīlauea’s summit, the greatest hazard is the large amount of volcanic gases—primarily water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2)—because this hazard can have widespread impacts downwind. Passive volcanic degassing can occur within Halemaʻumaʻu crater even during periods of no eruptive activity. When SO2 is released from the summit, it reacts in the atmosphere to produce the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog), which has been observed downwind of Kīlauea. Vog has the potential for airborne health hazards to residents and visitors, damages agricultural crops and other plants, and affects livestock.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, National Park Service and Hawaii County emergency officials are monitoring the situation.