United States - April 02, 2025 Lava fountains reached 215 m (700 feet) at Kīlauea volcano on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, during episode 16 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption. The volcano entered a phase of intense lava fountaining about 12 hours after the episode started at 22:24 UTC. Lava shot up from the southern vent, hitting over 60 m (200 feet) by 22:40 UTC and surpassing 215 m (700 feet) by 22:50 UTC. The Aviation Color Code stays at Orange. All activity remains within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Before the episode, the ground tilted upward, nearly recovering from a prior eruption. Then, it began to deflate as high fountains started, with stronger tremors. Weak spattering began at the north vent around 03:20 UTC on Tuesday. By 04:00 UTC, it turned continuous, with lava fountains reaching 5–10 m (15–30 feet). Small spatter fountains appeared at the south vent by 18:30 UTC, likely active deeper earlier. Activity rose at 22:12 UTC, producing major lava flows. Fountains may top 300 m (1,000 feet), like the last episode. SO2 levels have hit 50,000 tonnes per day in recent episodes and should persist in episode 16. Weak winds may spread gas and debris, risking harm to visitors and residents, as seen in episode 15. Episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu fountaining since December 23, 2024, have lasted 13 hours to 8 days, with pauses from under 24 hours to 12 days. The eruption stays in a closed park area. Key hazards are volcanic gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. SO2 creates vog, which may cause breathing issues downwind. Other risks include Pele’s hair—volcanic glass strands that irritate skin and eyes. These can gather like tumbleweeds, depending on wind and lava intensity. Lava flows remain in Halemaʻumaʻu crater and southwest Kaluapele, moving slowly downslope, typical of Hawaiian eruptions. Risks near the caldera include crater wall collapse, ground cracks, and rockfalls, possibly triggered by seismic activity.