Kīlauea’s Episode 39 lava fountaining stopped at 2:13 a.m. HST on Dec. 24, 2025, after nearly six hours. The episode was confined to Halemaʻumaʻu Crater inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The north vent stopped at about 2 a.m.; the south vent continued until 2:13 a.m.
What happened in Episode 39
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) revised the episode’s start time to 8:20 p.m. HST on Dec. 23 after analyzing summit tilt and seismic tremor data. That places the main fountaining interval at just under six hours, ending abruptly at 2:13 a.m. on Dec. 24.
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Activity came from two vents in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. The north vent shut down first, while the south vent produced the final fountains. Kīlauea’s broader summit eruption remains episodic: individual fountains commonly last less than 12 hours, followed by pauses that can extend beyond three weeks.
How high and how large were the fountains?
The south-vent fountains reached as high as 1,400 feet. The north-vent fountains were just under 1,000 feet at about 9:30 p.m. HST. Those heights made Episode 39 notably more spectacular than the first episode, even though Episode 39 lasted for less time.
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| Measure | Episode 39 | First episode |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Nearly six hours, from 8:20 p.m. Dec. 23 to 2:13 a.m. Dec. 24 HST | Approximately 14 hours |
| Maximum fountain height | Up to 1,400 feet at the south vent | Not stated in the contemporaneous event report |
| Lava volume | About 13 million cubic yards, estimated by HVO | Not stated |
| Crater-floor coverage | About 60%–70% of the Halemaʻumaʻu floor | Not stated |
| Vent behavior | North vent stopped around 2 a.m.; south vent stopped at 2:13 a.m. | Not stated |
HVO estimated that Episode 39 erupted about 13 million cubic yards of lava. The combined average rate from the two fountains exceeded 250 cubic yards per second, and lava spread across roughly 60%–70% of the crater floor. Summit instruments recorded about 26.3 microradians of deflation during the event.
Why Kīlauea produces stop-and-start fountains
Magma rising through narrow, pipelike conduits carries dissolved gases. As pressure changes near the vents, gas expands and helps drive lava upward. The Associated Press described Episode 39’s fountain mechanism as new magma pushing against heavier, degassed magma left by the preceding episode. That pressure can produce tall, intermittent-looking jets even when the eruption is being fed from the same summit reservoir.
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The episode did not send lava beyond Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. The event covered by the Dec. 24 report did not threaten homes or buildings, because the lava remained within the summit crater.
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What changed after the fountains stopped?
Gas emissions dropped sharply after the fountains ended, but the eruption area did not instantly become inactive. Lava in the southern Kaluapele area could remain slowly moving or incandescent while it cooled.
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Radar no longer detected the ash plume. Wind can nevertheless lift settled ash and fine particles again. The National Weather Service advised people to avoid excessive exposure because remobilized ash can irritate the eyes and airways; people with respiratory sensitivities should take extra precautions.
HVO reported a rapid shift from summit deflation to inflation, along with declining seismic tremor. Those changes are part of the observatory’s ongoing assessment of whether magma is rebuilding pressure for a later episode. HVO said it would continue monitoring and issue a notice when the next eruptive episode begins.
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Is Kīlauea safe to visit after Episode 39?
“The eruption stopped” does not mean every part of the summit is safe. USGS lists several continuing hazards around Kīlauea:
- Volcanic gases, including sulfur dioxide and vog, which can worsen breathing conditions.
- Tephra and ash that may be remobilized by wind.
- Unstable crater walls and ground cracks.
- Rockfalls and sudden changes in the crater area.
The rim around Halemaʻumaʻu is extremely hazardous and has been closed to the public since 2007. Visitors should check current Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park notices and HVO/USGS alerts before traveling. Alert levels, aviation color codes, park access, wind direction and ash conditions can change quickly.
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Can you still watch Kīlauea lava online?
Online views depend on what the official cameras are showing after an episode. Even when fountains stop, cameras may capture a glowing or slowly moving lava surface while the crater floor cools. If a new episode starts, official HVO and park channels are the appropriate places to check for current camera views, eruption notices and viewing restrictions.
Quick Recap
Episode 39 at a glance
- Location: Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, Kīlauea summit, Hawaiʻi Island.
- Start: 8:20 p.m. HST on Dec. 23, 2025, revised from tilt and tremor data.
- End: 2:13 a.m. HST on Dec. 24, 2025.
- Duration: Nearly six hours of continuous lava fountaining.
- Highest fountain: 1,400 feet at the south vent.
- Estimated lava: 13 million cubic yards.
- Average combined rate: More than 250 cubic yards per second.
- Crater-floor coverage: Approximately 60%–70%.
- Status in the event report: Volcano Alert Level Watch and Aviation Color Code Orange.
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