(BIVN) – The Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense issued a radio message on Sunday morning, informing the public of various beach closures in Kona due to high surf impacts, and the start of lava activity at the summit of Kīlauea.
A High Surf Advisory remains in place for south-facing shores of Hawaiʻi island. “Surf has increased overnight and is higher than normal,” the civil defense message stated. “Shore break and dangerous currents could cause injury or death.”
Due to the high surf the following beach parks are closed in North Kona District:
- Kahaluʻu
- Laʻaloa (Magic Sands)
- Kohanaiki
Officials say surf is forecast to increase through today. Other beach parks may close without notice.
The radio message also alerted residents to the precursory, low-level activity at the summit of Kīlauea, signaling the start of episode 49 high lava fountaining. Early Sunday morning, the USGS Volcano Alert was raised from ADVISORY to WATCH.
At 8:37 a.m. HST on Sunday, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported the following in a daily update:
The summit eruption of Kīlauea resumed with precursory overflows from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu this morning starting at 4:10 a.m. HST and lasted 20 minutes. A second overflow began at 5:59 a.m. HST and ended at 7:04 a.m. HST with a third starting at 8:14 a.m. HST. The south vent had 4 very short (<5 minute) overflows starting at 6:34 a.m. HST and continuing. The onset of episode 49 fountains is expected today or tomorrow, June 14-15. Winds are currently light trades from the northeast and models for episode 49 fountain — related ash clouds currently suggest most tephra fall will be to the south of the vents, though nearby communities to the north of Kīlaueaʻs summit may experience trace tephra and/or ash-Peleʻs hair fall.
