Kilauea Goes Baddie: Ash, Alerts, and a Twist of Weather
On Tuesday, the Big Island’s Kilauea volcano decided to dress up its fury and put on a fireworks show that sent ash blasting skyward and woke the aviation world. For the first time in 12 days, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) raised a red alert – that’s the volcano’s way of saying, “Listen, planes, you’re about to hit a cloud that’s way too dusty.”
Cloudy Business: Ash and Vag Mood Swings
- Ash towers rose up to 12,000 feet (3,657 m) above the crater, drifting southwest like a rogue cloud.
- Highway 11 trucks got a gray makeover as vog settled over them.
- In Pahala, a community 18 miles from the summit, residents were told the air was “unhealthy.”
NOAA’s meteorologist, John Bravender, warned that the wind could shift—turning the ash and vog into a concentrated indoor‑smoke fest by Wednesday.
Hawaiian Hazard: Residents vs. Retro‑Rock
Steve Brantley, Deputy Scientist‑In‑Charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, told reporters that ash is now a minor but steady headache, with occasional “energetic bursts.” The ash isn’t poisonous, but it can irritate eyes, noses and throats, make roads slick, and at worst jack power lines if it comes in bulk—an unwanted power outage party trick according to USGS chemist David Damby.
Fissure Fanfare: Lava’s New Groove
- A fresh crack opened Tuesday, spewing lava and toxic gases that turned the air quality near Lanipuna Gardens to “red”—think choking and a refusal to breathe.
- Road crews covered the crack on Highway 130 with metal plates and reopened it to give coastal folks an escape route. This is because, if lava decides to head to the ocean, Highway 137 might get clogged.
- No major injuries or deaths have been reported so far.
Tourism Trouble: “Sear” of the Big Island
Rob Birch, exec director of the Island of Hawaii Visitor Bureau, lamented that hotel bookings for the summer have dipped almost 50% from last year. With lava flows washing over houses and roofs in the eastern flank near Pahoa, prospective visitors are turning down the Big Island offer book by cold, uninviting 200,000‑person island.
Future Warning: The 1924 Spectacle Re‑Ready?
Scientists keep the torch on the possibility of an EXPLosive eruption—a blast that could hold 20,000‑foot ash clouds, spearing over ten miles of debris. The last of those 1924 theatrics remains on hold, but the volcano’s flirtations keep the door ajar.
Just remember: when Kilauea peaks, the Big Island’s atmosphere may turn from silky to dusty. Stay safe, stay dry, and keep your sunglasses handy – you never know when the volcano might throw a surprise ash storm into your day.
