The June 27 lava flow advanced about 165 yards between Wednesday and Thursday, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported Thursday.
The leading edge of the flow was 0.8 miles upslope of the intersection, which is where Pahoa Marketplace is located.
“We’re just watching the activity on the flow going forward and trying to remain optimistic that we might see a slow down or pause or stall,” Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said.
Lava from Kilauea Volcano is crossing flatter terrain, which may have partly caused the slackening. A breakout about 1.5 miles upslope has been active and may have taken some of the volume that’s coming from the source, Oliveira said.
“Current activity does not pose an immediate threat to area communities and Civil Defense and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory personnel are maintaining close observations of flow activity,” Civil Defense said. “Residents and businesses down slope will be kept informed of any changes in flow activity, advancement, and status.”
Gov. David Ige planned to view the lava and get an update Thursday. He was scheduled to meet with merchants and teachers from affected schools before attending a community meeting.
Since the new flow broke out from the lava tube along a crack system on Nov. 19, it’s rate of advancement has varied from less than 110 yards per day to more than 490 yards per day, the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said, noting that the flow now stretches 5 miles downslope from the crack system area. That equates to the flow advancing an average of 330 yards per day.
However, the flow’s rate of advancement has slowed during the past days. Between Monday and Tuesday, the flow advanced 275 yards, between Tuesday and Wednesday, it advanced about 220 yards. During the past 24 hours, it advanced just 165 yards.
Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira and scientists said Wednesday they did not want to speculate on the cause for the decrease in advancement. However, Oliveira noted that topography along the steepest line of descent, which includes 10-to-15-foot-high mounds of solidified lava from previous flows, and breakouts upslope may be having some affect.
Upslope of the leading edge, which is currently about 250 yards wide, numerous breakouts were seen on the north side of the flow, as well as on the actual surface of the flow, Oliveira said. The most significant breakout was seen about 2 miles upslope of the flow front where a “fairly active” ribbon of lava about 10 yards wide extended about 300 yards downslope.
Smoke conditions were reported as moderate in the immediate area of the flow with a light trade wind blowing the smoke in a south-southeast direction. Smoke conditions may increase in some areas and individuals who may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take necessary precautions and to remain indoors.