Deflation Affects Surface Lava ~ Photos of New Ocean Entry

Deflation of magma pressure, which began just after midnight on the 5th, did produce a cooling down of visible surface flows of lava across the coastal plain by afternoon, but did not stop it. Summit tiltmeter graphs recorded inflation returned at 4 pm yesterday afternoon and by evenening, red-hot glowing mounds of pahoehoe were once again getting brighter; by 9:30 PM were looking like little volcanoes themselves - yellow tops and with flowing rivers of red and orange down their sides.

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As shown in the photos above & below, taken by USGS photographers November 4th, lava is entering the ocean 2300-feet to the west of Waikupanaha.
Waikupanaha's large ocean entry to the east of here remains strong.


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Lava field geologists reported that surface flows closest to the viewing area trailhead had slowed way down but were still threatening kipuka forest remnants nearby

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Central Pacific Water Vapor Loop satellite imagery of the massive weather system just west –northwest of the Hawaiian Islands is remarkably locked into the same position as yesterday, which holds off the heavy rain a few hundred miles due west.

The National Weather Service forecasters in Oahu are still uncommitted as to the affects of this system, though most computer models indicate some unstable weather over the islands later into next week.