Officials and scientists continue to monitor upslope breakouts along the June 27 lava flow as activity diminishes downslope.
Small breakouts persisted from about 8 miles uplsope of the flow’s stalled leading edges, located less than a mile above Pahoa, to Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo vent, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported Tuesday morning. “Very little activity” was observed between the flow front and the start of the small breakouts. The flow extends about 14 miles.
The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Monday that the upslope breakouts were concentrated on the upper 4 miles of Kilauea’s East Rift Zone lava flow. Kilauea also continued to host a lava lake at its summit.
Scientists said that the flow continues to feed breakouts in three areas northeast of Puu Oo. The Feb. 21 breakout on the flank of Puu Oo is spreading and the March 9 breakout has reached the forested cone of Kahaualea. The third breakout, located about 3 miles farther northeast of the vent, appeared relatively small.
None of the activity posed an immediate threat to area communities, however, Civil Defense said.
Smoke and vog conditions were reported as moderate to heavy Tuesday morning with a light south wind blowing the smoke and vog in a northeast direction, Civil Defense said.
In addition, a light inversion was noted, causing the vog and smoke to settle over the areas of lower Puna through Hilo, officials said. The inversion is expected to breakup as temperatures rise during the day.