Kilauea lava lake could be visible Friday

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The lava lake in Halemaumau at Kilauea’s summit could be visible from the edge of the caldera as early as Friday if it continues to rise.

The lava lake in Halemaumau at Kilauea’s summit could be visible from the edge of the caldera as early as Friday if it continues to rise.

The lake, which rises and falls during periods of inflationary or deflationary tilt, reached new heights Thursday afternoon when it was less than 70 feet from the crater floor, surpassing the last record from October 2012 by about 2 feet.

Steve Brantley, deputy scientist-in-charge at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, estimated a portion of the lake could be visible from Jaggar Museum if it rises by another 10 feet.

“If it keeps rising at the same rate maybe within a day one part of the lava lake might be visible but not the whole thing,” he said Thursday.

“You might be able to see one corner of it.”

Read Friday’s Tribune-Herald for more information.