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Kilauea spawns a volcanic tornado, or volnado! See it here

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June 15, 2026

On June 14, 2026, Kilauea, on the Big Island of Hawaii, spawned a volnado, or a volcanic-generated tornado. Video via USGS.

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On June 14, 2026, Kilauea, on the Big Island of Hawaii, experienced the 49th episode of its most recent eruptive period, which began on December 23, 2024. The 49th episode was short-lived – only lasting for seven hours – but it produced a volnado, or a volcanic-generated tornado!

This vortex was technically a landspout, or a tornado that is not from a supercell thunderstorm. They form from the ground up.

Volnadoes are made of ash and dust from the intense heat from lava fountains interacting with cooler air, lifting volcanic particles into a spinning column. And they’re visible because of the dark ash and steam rising from the powerful lava jets.

See another angle of the volnado from one of the three USGS live cams that stream activity at Kilauea below.

Read about waterspouts and see spectacular images

This angle of the eruption shows the volnado a bit more obscured in ash and steam. On June 14, 2026, Kilauea had its 49th episode in its most recent series of eruptions on the Big Island of Hawaii. Video via USGS.

Watch the Kilauea live cam

Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. Is it erupting again? Check the live cam below to see for yourself. The 49th eruption lasted just seven hours. But the next eruptive episode could start at any time.

Want to see the Kilauea volcano live? The stream started on April 24, 2026!

A volnado from November

In November, Kilauea produced another volnado, or a tornado-like whirlwind. Volnadoes are somewhere between a dust devil and fire tornado. See it in the video below.

Bottom line: On June 14, 2026, the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii produced a volnado, or volcanic-generated tornado. See videos of it here.

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June 15, 2026

Earth

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

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