See It: Kilauea volcano erupts and spews rivers of lava for the 40th time since 2024
The 40th eruptive episode began shortly after volcanic activity started over the weekend.
WATCH: Rivers of lava flow from Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano
Rivers of lava flowed down several vents of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano overnight Monday, ahead of a potential 40th eruptive episode this week.
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii – Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has officially erupted for the 40th time since 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.
Rivers of lava flowed down several vents of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano overnight Monday.
HAWAII’S KILAUEA VOLCANO NEARS 40TH ERUPTIVE EPISODE AS ACTIVITY INCREASES
According to the USGS, intermittent lava flows and dome fountaining have been ongoing since the weekend.
![Rivers of lava flowed down several vents of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano overnight Monday — the latest signs of activity for one of the world's most active volcanoes.]()
Image 1 of 4Rivers of lava flowed down several vents of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano overnight Monday — the latest signs of activity for one of the world's most active volcanoes. (USGS Volcanoes)
![This dramatic image shows lava shooting hundreds of feet into the air during the most recent eruption at Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano on April 22, 2025.]()
Image 2 of 4FILE - This dramatic image shows lava shooting hundreds of feet into the air during the most recent eruption at Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano on April 22, 2025. (USGS/YouTube)
![A Hawaii Volcano Observatory camera shows the Kilauea caldera after the volcano began erupting on June 7, 2023.]()
Image 3 of 4FILE - A Hawaii Volcano Observatory camera shows the Kilauea caldera after the volcano began erupting on June 7, 2023. (Image: USGS) ( )
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Image 4 of 4FILE - A telephoto image of one of the low lava fountains near the center of the growing Halema'uma'u lava lake. (USGS photo by M. Patrick)
Dome fountains are smaller bubbles of lava that are typically precursors to much taller lava fountains, which are essentially jets of lava ejected hundreds of feet into the sky.
HAWAII’S KILAUEA SHOOTS 500-FOOT FOUNTAIN OF LAVA
According to the USGS, Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since Dec. 23, 2024, with each episode lasting less than 12 hours and separated by pauses that can be longer than two weeks.
The 40th eruptive episode began shortly after volcanic activity started this weekend.
WATCH: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano bubbles ahead of potential 40th eruptive episode
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano bubbles over the weekend ahead of potential 40th eruptive episode this week.
In an update, the USGS indicated that the prolonged precursor activity observed over the weekend paved the way for the 40th eruption.
These eruptions are occurring in a part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island that has been closed since late 2007.
However, volcanic gas, which is made up of water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, can be released during eruptions and can be hazardous to areas immediately downwind of the eruption.
Kilauea's last eruptive episode was on Dec. 24, 2025.