This story was updated at 5:21 p.m. on December 2
The Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory reports an active lava flow on Mauna Loa’s northeast rift. The leading edge of the flow closest to the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, or Saddle Road, continues to have minimal movement and remains near elevation 7,000 feet and 2.7 miles away from the highway.
For a map of the Mauna Loa lava flow, refer to the Civil Defense Hazard Impact Map.
The Daniel K. Inouye Highway is open in both directions and no communities are at risk.
For your safety, the speed limit has been reduced to 35 miles per hour near Maunakea Access Road. A 4.5-mile one-way lava viewing and traffic hazard mitigation route has also been opened, with the entrance opposite the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area. Pay attention to the road and watch out for others on the road.
This story was updated on December 2 at 10 a.m.
Early morning images from Mauna Loa’s eruption show that the northeast rift zone is still active, with fissure 3 continuing to be the dominant source of the lava flow. The leading edge of the flow is now 2.7 miles Daniel K. Inouye Highway.
The flow continues to have minimal movement and remains near the 7000 foot elevation. The estimated time for the lava to reach the highway is still about a week.
Hello Mauna Loa!
NE Rift Zone eruption continues. Fissure 3 remains the dominant source of the largest lava flow. Night shift handing over to day shift. Morning update to come. View from the Mauna Kea webcam: https://t.co/Vb49rS0tZ9.#MaunaLoaErupts pic.twitter.com/L6u2wZ9yGc— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) December 2, 2022
David Phillips of the US Geological Survey at the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory said the flow from fissure 4 has decreased overnight and is leveling off at this point. The crack 3 fountain has diminished and they seem to be less vigorous, but the production seems to be stable.
“It’s really slowed down and spread out,” Phillips said. “He shows no indication of where he might go. [east or west] right now.”
Fissure 3 lava is moving at 50 to 110 cubic feet per second. Phillips said there was no summit activity and there was less chance of additional cracks opening. He added that there was no indication of fissures opening on the southwest side that would threaten Kaū.
About 2,000 people used the traffic hazard mitigation route, which opened on Thursday evening. The 4.5 mile route on part of Old Saddle Road begins opposite Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area and ends at Puuhuluhulu.
“I was that way last night, it’s the best view and the safest place to go,” Mayor Mitch Roth said. “I spoke to a lot of people who were happy to have a safe place to go.”
Prior to opening the mitigation route, Hawaiian police issued nearly 50 tickets to motorists illegally parking on the shoulder of the highway at 60 mph. Last night, four were issued.
Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said there has been a request to deploy the Hawaii National Guard to assist with traffic control at observation sites. and air quality monitoring.
