Lava from a Hawaii volcano shot into the sky Tuesday in tall fountains that were expected to grow even bigger as part of an off-and-on eruption. The eruption began Dec. 23 in a crater at the summit of Kilauea,

The USGS said lava fountains from the north vent reached a maximum height of between 500 and 600 feet before they started to decrease.

Kilauea is in a unique phase of activity in Halema‘uma‘u, with 12 episodes of dual lava fountains since Dec. 23, 2024.

Fountains dropped in height 250 feet (80 meters) to 300 feet (90 meters) on Tuesday night, according to the Hawaii Volcano Observatory. On Wednesday morning, a webcam still showed tall bursts of fiery red lava and billowing smoke.

Kīlauea volcano at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is in a unique phase of activity in Halemaʻumaʻu, with 12 episodes of dual lava fountains since December 23, 2024.

Continuous lava fountaining began about 2 p.m. today within Kilauea’s Halemaumau crater as the 12th episode of the ongoing summit eruption continues, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists. Episode 12 started this morning with “sluggish” lava flows from the south and north vents of the summit caldera, according to HVO.