How this Hawaiian volcano blasted lava higher than the Empire State Building

On May 25, 2025, Hawaii’s famously feisty volcano, Kīlauea, launched itself back into the spotlight, literally, by shooting lava fountains over 1,000 feet into the sky. For a few hours, the Earth wasn’t just simmering. It was on full blast.

And yes, that height is real. Taller than the Eiffel Tower. Taller than the Chrysler Building. Taller than your sense of calm if you’d been standing nearby.

This eruption, known as Episode 23, is now one of the most dramatic volcanic events in recent decades and we’re here to break it down Weather Nerdy-style.

What made this eruption so insane?

It started around 4:15 p.m. local time in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater inside Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The lava didn’t just ooze or creep, it erupted with serious altitude.

The north vent stole the show, launching lava more than 1,000 feet into the air, that’s nearly the height of the Empire State Building. The south vent wasn’t far behind, with lava bursts reaching up to 800 feet.

By the time the eruption wrapped around 10:25 p.m., lava had covered half of the crater floor, while molten rock, volcanic ash, and glass-like threads called Pele’s hair soared high into the atmosphere.

It was explosive. It was beautiful. It was volcanic chaos at its finest.

What’s Pele’s hair, and why is it flying through the sky?

When lava fountains shoot into the air, the molten rock stretches into thin, golden threads as it cools and solidifies mid-flight. These delicate strands are called Pele’s hair, named after Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes.

They look like angel hair pasta spun from glass, and yes, they’re just as fragile. In fact, they’re made of volcanic glass and can be razor-sharp.

Pele’s hair is so light that it can float in the wind for miles, often collecting on car windshields, plants, and anything downwind from the eruption. It’s beautiful, but it’s not something you want to breathe in or touch with bare skin.

So when scientists say it was “soaring high into the atmosphere,” they mean the eruption was powerful enough to fling these glassy threads into the sky and let the wind carry them across the island like glitter from a fire god.

What causes lava to launch that high anyway?

It all comes down to pressure, gas, and the type of lava. Kīlauea produces basaltic lava, which is hot, runny, and loaded with dissolved gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

As magma rises, those gases expand fast, kind of like popping the tab on a super-shaken soda can that’s been in a volcano for a few thousand years.

When the surface cracks, the pressure releases in one violent push, sending lava straight into the sky like a flaming geyser.

That’s why Kīlauea’s eruptions can be so tall. The lava is low-viscosity (not sticky), the gas content is high, and the eruption site was practically begging for a blowout.

Was it dangerous?

Luckily, the eruption was confined to the crater and the surrounding park—no towns or neighborhoods were directly in harm’s way.

That said, it did produce vog (volcanic smog), a toxic mix of sulfur dioxide and moisture that can drift downwind and irritate eyes, lungs, and even your mood.

The eruption also sent ash and debris up to 5,000 feet into the air, creating an eerie haze and setting off air quality alerts across parts of the Big Island.

So while the lava stayed local, the atmosphere definitely noticed.

Is the eruption over?

As of May 27, the eruption has paused, but that doesn’t mean Kīlauea is done. According to the USGS, the volcano is still inflating, and gas emissions remain high, meaning magma is still lurking close to the surface.

Translation: this volcano isn’t just on a coffee break. It could be gearing up for another round.

The nerdy bottom line

Kīlauea reminded us again why it’s one of Earth’s most spectacular repeat performers. Lava over 1,000 feet high? That’s not just science, it’s a natural flex.

And here’s the cool part: this isn’t just geology. Eruptions like this affect weather, air quality, aviation, and even climate if they get big enough. So while it’s not your standard thunderstorm, it absolutely belongs in the Weather Nerdy Hall of Fame.

We cover wild science like this every day on Weather Nerdy—because curiosity deserves an eruption of its own.