We grabbed the camera and headed to Volcanoes National Park after an eruption sent tephra shooting 1500 feet into the air, closing the park until the next day when we arrived.
The eruption began with an explosive release of pressure from one of Kīlauea’s vents on Saturday January 24th, creating a lava fountain estimated at 1,500 feet high — tall enough to rival skyscrapers. Events like this are rare, even in one of the most volcanically active places on Earth.
As molten lava shot into the sky, it didn’t just fall back as flowing lava. Instead, much of it shattered into fragments midair, creating what scientists call tephra — volcanic rock and ash that can rain down over large areas.
What Is Tephra?
Tephra is a general term for any material ejected into the air during a volcanic eruption, including:
Fine volcanic ash
Pebble-sized rocks called lapilli
Larger chunks known as volcanic bombs
In this case, tephra fell across parts of the park like a storm — not rain, but hot, sharp lava rock fragments sparking an evacuation order.
When we got to the parking lot at the old Jagger Museum it looked like something out of another world. Cars, trails, parking lots — all dusted and buried in inches of fresh volcanic fallout. Black cinder rocks covered the ground like snow… but it was sharp, lightweight volcanic rock. 
This wasn’t your typical eruption pattern.
Because winds were calm, the material went straight up, then drifted and fell back down — creating a rock “rain” event across parts of the park. Some visitors were actually here while it was happening and described being pelted as it came down. 
In this video, you’ll see:
🌋 What fresh tephra looks like up close
🪨 The difference between larger volcanic chunks and lighter fallout
🌫️ Strong sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions still pouring from the caldera
😷 Why N95 masks matter if you’re sensitive to air quality
🚧 Park crews clearing roads and walkways
We also share why taking volcanic rocks is not okay — showing respect for Pele and the land is part of being here.
This is real-time geology. These are some of the newest rocks on Earth, and the landscape changes overnight. If you’ve ever wondered what happens right after an eruption — this is it.
👉 Want to catch future eruptions? Check USGS webcams and be ready — things can change fast here.
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📞 Julie Ziemelis | RS-85062
📍 REAL Broker
📧 Julie@Ziemelis.com
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