Last week, the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupted once again, showcasing a spectacular display of lava swirling into the air like a dust devil, forming a phenomenon known as a “lavanado.” Captured in stunning video footage by Scott Malis on February 26, the 11th episode of the volcano’s eruption featured lava shooting out and spinning upwards, creating a mesmerizing lavanado. Malis described the rare event that occurred around 4 a.m., lasting approximately five minutes as the heat from the lava mixed with the cooler mountain air to create a tornado-like effect.
But what exactly is a lavanado? The U.S. Geological Survey defines it as a wind vortex within the caldera, a large depression resulting from the collapse of a volcano’s central part post-eruption. The video capturing the lavanado was filmed during the 11th episode of the ongoing summit eruption at Kilauea, which commenced on February 25 at 6:22 p.m. local time and concluded the following morning at 7:06 a.m. local time, as reported by the Hawaii Volcano Observatory. During the eruption, fountains of lava reached heights of approximately 600 feet.
Malis, a resident of the island for over 15 years, expressed his frequent visits to witness volcanic activity in the national park, having observed seven out of the ongoing summit eruption’s 12 episodes. Episode 11, in particular, stood out as the most significant he had witnessed, leaving him captivated by its immense scale. Recalling his experience, Malis shared that although he had previously seen a smaller version of a tornado over lava, this lavanado was exceptional, extending all the way up to the sky.
The Kilauea volcano began its eruption on December 23, 2024, on Hawaii’s Big Island, with intermittent breaks between episodes. The volcano observatory announced the completion of its 12th episode on Tuesday morning after 22 hours of continuous eruptive activity. Situated along the southeastern shore of the Island of Hawaii within the Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea is renowned for its active volcanic activity, alongside Mauna Loa, making it a popular tourist destination.
Since December, each eruptive episode has varied in duration from hours to multiple days, interspersed with periods of inactivity lasting from hours to up to 12 days, as per the USGS.
