Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai‘i – Episode 20 of the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea paused on Tuesday night after 4.5 hours of strong lava fountaining from vents in Halemaʻumaʻu crater.

After 31 hours of low-level signs, sustained fountains began at 5:28 p.m. HST. The eruption started with a sudden shift in summit tilt from inflation to deflation and a sharp increase in tremor.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that fountains from the north vent quickly rose over 500 feet. The lava spread across the crater floor, including a flow that poured over the south vent.

In the first 30 minutes, the eruption rate was about 7,000 cubic feet per second.

The south vent followed, sending fountains up to 65 feet high. Scientists say the lava from Episode 20 covered less than half of the crater floor.

The eruption ended at 9:58 p.m. HST. As it stopped, the summit tilt shifted again from deflation to inflation, and tremor levels dropped.

The eruption is now paused. The USGS Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH.

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