(BIVN) – Kīlauea volcano remains in a precursory phase – at this point the longest precursory phase of the current eruption – with a pause in visible lava activity Monday morning.
Overnight, there were nearly continuous spatter bursts at the north vent, where a spatter cone has been formed. The spatter activity started around 6:30 pm HST, and intensified, featuring larger bursts of 35-70 feet (10-20 m) high. Tremor was constant and slow summit inflation continued.
The activity stopped at sunrise Monday morning.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Sunday that the “onset of episode 55 fountaining is likely today or tomorrow, if conditions remain favorable.”
Summit inflation remains well above the episode 54 starting level. “Inflation-based forecasting models are no longer valid and it is difficult to say how long this precursory activity may last,” the Observatory stated.
Previously, the longest period of precursory activity was 6.2 days, which occurred before episode 44.
The USGS Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH and the Aviation Color Code is ORANGE.
This story will be updated with the latest from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory when it the information is made available.
