The June 27 lava flow advanced another 350 to 400 yards as of Tuesday morning, placing its front about 2.7 miles from the intersection of Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road.
The June 27 lava flow advanced another 350 to 400 yards as of Tuesday morning, placing its front about 2.7 miles from the intersection of Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road.
The flow is currently following a path of steepest descent that would take it near that intersection and through Pahoa Marketplace.
How quickly the flow gets there, if stays on its current path, remains to be seen. While the flow rate has been vigorous over the past few days, that’s expected to lessen as it is impacted by decreased output at Pu‘u ‘O‘o and reaches less steep terrain.
According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a deflation event at the vent has resulted in a 25 percent decrease in the amount of lava moving through the flow’s tube system.
Additionally, the flow could begin to pool about a kilometer from its position Tuesday morning where the terrain is less steep, said Mike Poland, HVO geophysicist.
At that point, two paths of steepest descent nearly converge. The one it is currently following travels to Pahoa Marketplace, while the other eventually reaches the southeastern edge of Hawaiian Paradise Park.
Officials say it remains to be seen which path it follows, though it’s possible it could travel along both.
The next community meeting on the lava flow is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Pahoa High School cafeteria.