Kilauea Opens New Crack With Large Flames as Episode 53 Eyed for Aug. 8-12
Updated
Updated · Big Island Video News · Aug 6
Kilauea Opens New Crack With Large Flames as Episode 53 Eyed for Aug. 8-12
3 articles · Updated · Big Island Video News · Aug 6
Summary
A new crack upslope of Kilauea's south vent has begun emitting intermittent large flames, while the summit eruption remains paused and another lava-fountaining episode is expected within days.
USGS scientists linked the flames to gas pistoning as steady summit inflation continues, with tremor pulses occurring about three to five times an hour.
The south vent has been mostly dark, but the north vent is maintaining a consistent glow, leaving the new crack's role in the south vent system still unclear.
USGS forecast the likely window for episode 53 at Aug. 8 to Aug. 12, though that could shift if deflation interrupts the current inflation trend.
Kilauea's alert status remains unchanged at ADVISORY with the aviation color code at YELLOW.