HILO — Kilauea Volcano’s lava lake was briefly visible from the edge of its caldera starting late Sunday evening, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
HILO — Kilauea Volcano’s lava lake was briefly visible from the edge of its caldera starting late Sunday evening, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
The lake rose into view from the Jagger Museum at about 10 p.m. Sunday, and could been seen “on and off” as its level fluctuated through early Monday morning, said Janet Babb, U.S. Geological Survey HVO spokeswoman.
As of 7:30 a.m., the lake was 75 feet below the rim of the Overlook crater and back out of sight.
It is estimated lava reached within 65 feet of the crater rim after midnight, Babb said.
That would have been the first time the lava lake was visible since last May when it overflowed onto the floor of Halemaumau, raising the crater rim by about 25 feet.
Babb said the lake remained relatively high throughout Monday, with spatter visible at times through binoculars. It could be seen occasionally through a webcam.
Babb said the volcano is back into a deflationary trend, which explains why the lake receded. It remained in deflation as of 4 p.m. Monday.
It’s not known if the lava lake will return into view in the short term, but it is possible.
“It really depends on the tilt,” Babb said. “If the deflation continues, it probably won’t be visible again.”
Info: https://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.