USGS Volcano Notice: Halemaʻumaʻu eruption paused after Episode 42.

The USGS reports Episode 42 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended at 11:38 p.m. HST on February 15, 2026, and the eruption is currently paused; light tephra fall of fine ash and Pele's hair was reported to the southwest.

Episode 42 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended at 11:38 p.m. HST on February 15, 2026, and the eruption is currently paused, according to a USGS Volcano Notice. The episode produced sustained lava fountaining from north and south vents and generated a high plume and light tephra fall in nearby areas. Scientists recorded rapid increases in seismic tremor and deflationary tilt at the onset and tracked fountain heights and effusion rates through the event. The report notes that wind direction affected tephra distribution compared with the prior episode. Observed details: - Episode 42 began with fountaining at about 1:50 p.m. HST on February 15 and lasted 9 hours and 48 minutes, ending at 11:38 p.m. HST. - Peak instantaneous effusion near 3:00 p.m. HST reached about 1000 cubic yards (780 cubic meters) per second, with an average effusion of about 430 cubic yards (330 cubic meters) per second for the episode. - Estimated erupted volume was about 15 million cubic yards (11.4 million cubic meters), covering roughly 50% of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. - Maximum fountain heights were reported near 400 m (1,300 ft) from the south vent and about 300 m (1,000 ft) from the north vent; a plume reached about 10,600 m (35,000 ft) in altitude per the National Weather Service. - The Uēkahuna tiltmeter recorded about 33.7 microradians of deflationary tilt during the episode. - Light tephra fall, mainly fine ash and Pele's hair, was reported in Pahala, Punaluʻu, and Nāʻāehu to the southwest; the report cites differing wind patterns as a factor and notes tephra can pose a health hazard and may contaminate catchment water supplies, as referenced by the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health. Summary: The Episode 42 event produced substantial fountaining and lava outflow but has paused as of the reported end time. Undetermined at this time.