Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) captured footage of a small whirlwind forming over the Kilauea volcano on June 1, 2024 [1].
The event provides a rare visual record of how extreme heat from volcanic activity interacts with the atmosphere to create localized weather phenomena.
Located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the whirlwind—also described as a “volnado” or “Tephra Devil”—appeared as a spinning vortex of air and volcanic debris [1, 2, 3]. The phenomenon was recorded by USGS cameras monitoring the active site [1].
USGS scientists said the whirlwind was likely caused by hot lava heating the surface air. This heated air then rises into the cooler air above and draws surrounding air inward, which creates a convergent vortex [1, 4].
"Scientists say it may be the result of hot lava hitting cooler air," a USGS scientist said [5].
The activity occurred during an ongoing period of eruption for the volcano. However, reports on the specific eruption episode number vary across sources. Some reports identify the event as the 47th eruptive episode [6], while others cite it as the 45th [7], 44th [8], or 37th eruption [9].
Such vortices are typically short-lived but can be intense depending on the temperature gradient between the lava and the ambient air. The USGS continues to monitor Kilauea to better understand these atmospheric interactions during eruptive phases.
“A small whirlwind—also described as a “volnado” or “Tephra Devil”—formed and was captured on camera.”
The observation of a 'volnado' highlights the complex thermodynamics of volcanic eruptions. While these whirlwinds are generally small, they demonstrate how volcanic heat can trigger sudden atmospheric instability, potentially affecting the distribution of volcanic ash and tephra in the immediate vicinity of a vent.
