# For volcano watchers - maybe you'll get lucky! {Kilauea may be erupting} **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 5, 2023, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665 "2023-09-05T20:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/321 "2025-06-12T23:05:52Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Only-- **ONLY** on the SDMB–could a possible volcanic eruption be regarded as _lucky_. Not really. Lots of people treat volcanoes as spectator events. Even people who live on the slopes of one. @CairoCarol would not be complaining of heavy traffic on the road _to_ the eruption if everyone was fleeing in a panic. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/322 "2025-06-12T23:20:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Lots of people treat volcanoes as spectator events. Absolutely. There are different kinds of volcanoes - and for sure, if you are near a stratovolcano that is rumbling, and civil defense tells you to evacuate, you should. People who didn’t heed the warnings before the Mt. St. Helens eruptions died. But Kīlauea isn’t a stratovolcano, it’s a shield volcano. As long as you stay far enough away, it’s safe to enjoy the show. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/323 "2025-06-12T23:24:39Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > But Kīlauea isn’t a stratovolcano, it’s a shield volcano. As long as you stay far enough away, it’s safe to enjoy the show. You can even get pretty close to some. I was in Iceland a year ago and they had a volcano going off. Many people walked right up to it. [![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/03/22/01/40763660-0-image-a-44_1616377235290.jpg) ](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/03/22/01/40763660-0-image-a-44_1616377235290.jpg) [![](https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bostonglobe/AHPK6ADBFD4F3HLGAOEPCXE2IA.jpg) ](https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bostonglobe/AHPK6ADBFD4F3HLGAOEPCXE2IA.jpg) [![](https://media.9news.com/assets/CCT/images/2f529d77-c6c7-4171-a19d-a33386c5a886/2f529d77-c6c7-4171-a19d-a33386c5a886_1920x1080.jpg) ](https://media.9news.com/assets/CCT/images/2f529d77-c6c7-4171-a19d-a33386c5a886/2f529d77-c6c7-4171-a19d-a33386c5a886_1920x1080.jpg) [![](https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/3ecb1e80a6fd75f557ea5156ea5e99f2) ](https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/3ecb1e80a6fd75f557ea5156ea5e99f2) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/324 "2025-06-20T14:12:40Z")
Spouting lava straight up right now. It’s still dark there and you can see the lava spreading on the crater floor. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/325 "2025-06-20T16:18:54Z")
I’m in Honolulu, so no angst over “should we or should we not jump in the car and go see it?” Looks great on YouTube, though. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/326 "2025-06-20T17:11:46Z")
Spectacular ! (on V1, V2 and V3) Some of the ejections look like starling murmurations when they turn from red to black (presumably due to cooling ? or is it lighter black stuff blowing away ?) ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/327 "2025-06-20T18:07:41Z")
Incredible. I’m enjoying the view from V1 right now Some of them must be reaching 2000 feet. They are going off-camera! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/328 "2025-06-20T18:15:56Z")
I bet you mean 200 feet. But yes, it’s pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/329 "2025-06-20T18:26:23Z")
No, I meant 2000 feet, but I could be way off! I’m basing that on my very faulty memory of eruptions from a few weeks ago that were described as 1000 ft+ and these look twice as high, going off the top of the screen and all. But I admit I could be wrong. Don’t ask me to provide a cite for the 1000 ft claim! ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/330 "2025-06-20T18:38:05Z")
Here is a very recent quote from [this live feed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsFIiFtHX0g) “USGS: Episode 26 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at approximately 1:40 a.m. HST on June 20, 2025, with lava fountains and flows erupting from the north vent. Lava fountains are currently reaching heights of over 1,000 feet (300 meters).” ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/331 "2025-06-21T11:59:38Z")
Another similar message, posted yesterday on the [Observatory Messages page of the Hawaii Volcano Observatory.](https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/observatory-messages) > Kilauea Message 2025-06-20 02:23:33 HST > Episode 26 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at approximately 1:40 AM HST, June 20, with lava fountains and flows erupting from the north vent. Fountain heights are **well over 1,000 feet (300 m)**. Plume is over 20,000 ft (6,000 m) Bolding mine ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/332 "2025-06-21T13:47:02Z")
Color me both chastised and confused about the scale of the scene. I was thinking the crater floor to crater rim was 300-500 feet. Seems to be a good deal more than that. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/333 "2025-06-21T20:33:47Z")
I didn’t mean to chastise! But after I said “Don’t ask me for a cite” I started wondering where I saw the 1000 ft claim. I googled around and found the first cite, then later found the second. I only posted it because it seemed more definitive, coming directly from the Hawaii Volcano Observatory. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/334 "2025-06-21T21:35:10Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I was thinking the crater floor to crater rim was 300-500 feet Size/distance is impossible to assess from the web cams. Hell, even when I’m there the scale is hard to comprehend. The “close” viewing areas are ??? a mile or more away? I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/335 "2025-06-29T18:37:49Z")
Just getting going on a new episode now (8:37 am HST). Looks like it started about 1/2 hour ago, give or take. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/336 "2025-06-30T03:07:33Z")
It’s still going strong, fountaining. The best view of the flows is on V1. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/337 "2025-06-30T11:29:49Z")
And now ~8 hours later (0700 ET, 0100 HT) it’s stopped. plenty of light & smoke/steam but no lava flow. The crater floor is still very glowy, so it stopped not long ago. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/338 "2025-07-09T15:48:49Z")
Episode 27 happening now and is probably going to hit peak heights soon, if it follows the pattern or recent past episodes. The precursory activity was fun to watch - quite a lot of flames for a while. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/339 "2025-07-09T15:51:19Z")
Amazing ! Looks great at this time of day. Especially on V1 or V3. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665/340 "2025-07-10T20:07:21Z")
If you look at the middle right of V1, you’ll see a wee bit of flow every once in a while. It was more noticeable when it was dark. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-volcano-watchers-maybe-youll-get-lucky-kilauea-may-be-erupting/989665.md?page=18)