HVO reports minor intermittent spatter from Kīlauea’s north vent. The September 21 update does not say sustained fountaining has begun. HVO’s September 21, 9:28 a.m. HST daily update says the established north, south, and west vents continued to glow, with minor intermittent spatter from the north vent. Strong tremor became continuous over the previous 24 hours and is now the dominant summit seismic signal. Slow inflation added about 0.6 microradians over the past day, bringing the total since episode 54 ended to about 15.6 microradians. HVO reported no anomalous activity outside the summit. Kīlauea remains at WATCH/ORANGE.

HVO’s September 16, 8:09 p.m. HST message reported a sixth new vent on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu, just north of vent 5, visible just before 6 p.m. HST. A small summit tilt drop began around 5 p.m. HST and might correlate with the opening.

Earlier that day, HVO’s September 16, 10:16 a.m. HST update documented five new vents, with three feeding small lava flows on the crater floor. That morning’s report described stalled summit inflation, increased tremor and a highly pressurized summit, with the next outcome uncertain. Kīlauea remains at WATCH/ORANGE.

The first five new vents opened September 14–15. HVO now places the first opening at 8:36 p.m. HST September 14, with lava flowing around 9 p.m. These vents are separate from the established vent complex. See HVO’s annotated image of the first five vents for their locations. Check the latest report and live cameras before making a trip specifically to see fountains.

The featured photograph shows an earlier eruption. Use the live cameras above for today’s view.

At the September 21 inflation rate, HVO says the summit is within roughly 1–2 days of returning to the 16-microradian pressure peak that preceded the opening of vents 1–6. That estimate changes if inflation slows or deflation returns. It describes pressure recovery, not a forecast that sustained fountaining will start within 1–2 days. Earlier episode windows can no longer be modeled because inflation and deflation have become irregular.

HVO now lists three most likely paths: activity could resume at the established north-south-west vent complex, vents 1–6 could reactivate, or magma could intrude another weak crack system in the summit region. HVO says none of those events is likely to produce a strong seismic precursor. The broader September 15 status report also explains why this cycle may not repeat the recent episode pattern: the new lower vents could support more continuous lava, fountaining could return, additional vents could form, or magma could intrude an upper rift zone. These are scenarios, not confirmed events, and HVO reports no current anomalous activity outside the summit.

HVO counted 104 precursor overflows between September 7 and 12, followed by intermittent spatter and six new vents September 13–16. The newer vents then went quiet. The September 21 report places the current minor intermittent spatter at the established north vent. Spatter and glow inside a vent are different from sustained high fountaining or an active lava flow across the crater floor. The next change may look different from recent numbered episodes, but the September 21 update does not report that episode 55 fountaining has begun.

Keep our live Kīlauea eruption tracker handy for the current phase, summit cameras, and episode timeline. Check the tracker’s live panel for the latest formal HVO notice before leaving.

Wind direction can change quickly, so check the newest HVO report and current air-quality guidance rather than carrying forward an older plume forecast.

HVO reported no significant activity along the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. The summit eruption is occurring within a closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, but gases and airborne particles can travel beyond the crater. Check NPS air-quality guidance before and during a visit, and follow park closures and ranger instructions.

Start with the live tracker and cameras, then read the latest NPS alerts. A visible overflow on a zoomed-in camera does not promise the same view from a public overlook. NPS warns that weather can block views and eruption periods bring traffic and limited parking.

If you are already nearby, keep your plan flexible and use only open public viewing areas. If you are coming from farther away, decide whether you would still enjoy a park day if fountaining has not started when you arrive. Our Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guide can help you plan that broader visit. Never cross a closure for a closer look.