Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 5, 2021

On Friday, HVO geologists observed a breakout from the west vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. This photo shows the vent about an hour before the breakout occurred on the northern side of the cone. Note that no glow or spatter can be seen from the cone (center-left), but loud hissing noises from the vent area were audible to field crews. USGS photo taken by J. Schmith on March 5, 2021.