Ashfall warning issued after Kilauea volcano erupts in Hawaii
Why it Matters
The Warning alert and Red aviation color code signaled a hazardous eruption with significant ash emissions, affecting public safety, visibility, and air travel on and around Hawaii Island, according to USGS.
Authorities reported tephra fall—including ash, Pele’s hair, and larger fragments—across Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and nearby communities, leading to roadway closures and park restrictions while the National Weather Service (NWS) issued an Ashfall Warning, underscoring the risk of respiratory irritation and reduced visibility.
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What To Know
USGS said Episode 43 began Tuesday morning with initial activity at the north vent followed by the south vent just before 10 a.m., and that fountains from both vents reached maximum heights over 1,300 feet while lava covered about one-third of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.
HVO reported the eruption plume to 30,000 feet above sea level with southerly winds pushing ash and gas to the north, while local news outlet WCVB cited a 25,000-foot plume earlier in the day; both indicated ash hazards to aviation and communities downwind.
The NWS issued an Ashfall Warning for parts of Hawaii Island as the eruption sent tephra downwind, advising the public to limit exposure and follow official guidance as conditions evolved.
Hawaii County Civil Defense announced the closure of Highway 11 between mile markers 24 and 40 due to dangerous tephra fall, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park reported temporary closures around Kīlauea’s summit, with lodging guests at Volcano House and Kīlauea Military Camp permitted entry.
HVO webcams and reports documented tephra fallout creating hazardous conditions at overlooks in the park and on the Volcano Golf Course, with reports of fragments up to three inches in Volcano Village and Mauna Loa Estates and lighter material including Pele’s hair in Royal Hawaiian Estates.
Health hazards and how to report ash
USGS cautioned that volcanic gas, ash, and Pele’s hair can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system, and directed the public to guidance on vog and tephra safety and to a reporting portal for tephra fall observations.
How often does Kilauea erupt?
USGS has documented an ongoing episodic summit eruption at Kīlauea since December 23, 2024, with 42 prior eruptive episodes through January 2026 and Episode 43 beginning on March 10, 2026; most episodes have lasted a day or less, according to USGS summaries and local reports.
In late January, Episode 41 lasted more than eight hours and generated widespread tephra that led to closures and weather alerts before activity subsided, illustrating the short-lived but intense character of many recent episodes, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
What People Are Saying
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said in its status report Tuesday: “Episode 43 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea summit began around 9:17 a.m. HST on March 10, 2026, and is continuing at this time."
In January, after Episode 41, a Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park spokesperson, speaking to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, said there was “an unprecedented amount of tephra and ash covering the roads and trails and roofs at the summit of the volcano,” describing the cleanup and safety concerns that follow intense, short-duration episodes.
What Happens Next
USGS said it continued to monitor the eruption and hazards in real time and directed residents and visitors to heed guidance from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaii County Civil Defense as ashfall and tephra conditions changed with the wind.
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Most recent Kīlauea summit episodes have lasted a day or less, and agencies have advised the public to check official updates for ash warnings, road conditions, and park access as conditions evolve.
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