KĪLAUEA FOUNTAINS REACHED 660 FEET
USGS says Hawaii’s latest lava episode ended November 5; the summit is now reinflating.
TNS News Desk | November 8, 2026
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano put on a towering display of natural force before entering another pause. The U.S. Geological Survey says lava fountains during the November 5 episode reached approximately 660 feet above the vent.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that episode 56 ran from 12:10 p.m. until 6:01 p.m. local time. The eruption produced an estimated eight million cubic yards of lava, while its plume rose to roughly 18,000 feet above sea level.
By November 7, the observatory said fountaining had stopped and the summit was reinflating. Instruments showed renewed inflation and elevated seismic tremor, but scientists expected the next major fountaining episode to be several weeks away based on recent patterns.
That is not a promise of a precise eruption date. Volcanoes are monitored through measurements of deformation, earthquakes, gases and visual activity, and those indicators can change.
The active eruption area remains inside a closed part of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Visitors should follow park closures and USGS notices. The striking 660-foot figure is confirmed by the observatory; claims of unusual blue lava or an imminent catastrophe are not established by this update.