Video Courtesy: USGS
VOLCANO, Hawaii (KHON2) — In this special episode of Kīlauea’s eruption, visitors were treated to an occurrence that has only been seen in a few eruptive episodes — a volnado.
The volnado was caught forming by a USGS live camera on Tuesday, Sept. 2, around 1 p.m. The ongoing live stream was showcasing the current fountaining levels when it captured the occurrence.
In a social media post, the USGS said the camera “caught the whirlwind kicking up loose ash deposits along the active fountain and flow within Halemaʻumaʻu crater.”
The USGS said they are caused by a mix of hot and cold air.
Officials add there is a possibility these whirlwinds can occur “on the crater rim downwind of the eruption,” close to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
This marks episode 32 of Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption, which began around 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 2.
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The current eruption has been ongoing since Dec. 23, 2024. To watch the eruption live, visit the USGS YouTube page.