The eruption has closed Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Highway 11 in Puna at the 25.5 Mile Marker at the intersection of Nahelenani Street and in Kau at the 40 Mile Marker. Drivers are asked to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

Lava fountaining began at Kilauea’s summit late this morning, marking the start of a new eruptive episode, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Past “Volcano Watch” articles have summarized the episodic lava fountaining eruptions in Kilauea’s recent history—within the past couple hundred years. A look further back in the geologic record reveals that several lava fountaining eruptions similar to the ongoing one in Halema‘uma‘u occurred within Kilauea caldera within the past 500 years.

Hawaii’s most active and popular volcano, Kilauea, is preparing to put on a show as geologists forecast the volcano’s 44th eruption in the coming days. The United States Geological Survey said that precursory eruption activity is occurring as the active volcano prepares to erupt – one of Earth’s most captivating natural spectacles.