Kilauea Erupts: 46th episode ends after 9 hours of fountaining at Halema’uma’u Summit
By KITV Web Staff
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KILAUEA, Hawaii (KITV) — The 46th episode of Kilauea that begun on Tuesday morning end after over 9 hours of fountaining, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed.
Lava fountaining began in Halema’uma’u at the summit at 8:17 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
USGS officials reported that the north vent fountain heights are currently reaching 500 ft. The National Weather Service forecasts light and variable winds becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph Tuesday morning, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and tephra may be distributed throughout the summit region.
The eruptions ended abruptly at 5:22 p.m. after 9 hours of continuous lava fountaining. Tephra fall from volcanic ash clouds has only reached within 3 miles of the vents, while lighter ash and Pele’s Hair may appear further from the vents.
Most lava fountaining episodes since December 23, 2024, have continued for a day or less.
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