Extreme Weather
Published Updated

Watch: Kilauea volcano erupts and spews lava fountains for the 40th time since 2024

The 40th eruptive episode began shortly after volcanic activity started over the weekend.

By Julian Atienza , Angela Fortuna Source FOX Weather

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.

An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

Rivers of lava flowed down several vents of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano overnight Monday.

Video from the USGS shows lava spewing from the volcano just before 8:30 a.m. HST. Lava fountains from the north vent can be seen soaring into the air over 800 feet, feeding growing lava flows across the crater floor.

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.

Image 1 of 4

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. (USGS Volcanoes)

Image 2 of 4

FILE - 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)

Image 3 of 4

FILE - A Hawaii Volcano Observatory camera shows the Kilauea caldera after the volcano began erupting on June 7, 2023. (Image: USGS) ( )

Image 4 of 4

FILE - 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.

The eruption is emitting volcanic gases at rates of 50,000 to 100,000 tonnes a day, which may contribute to volcanic air pollution downwind, according to the USGS.

The agency said the plume will likely stay close to Halema'uma'u and the summit area. Fragments of lava that fall through the area, also known as tephra, are falling on the western and southern rims of the crater.

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.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

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.