Ash Vortices On Mt. Kīlauea. Fascinating Puahiohio’ Explained

InnovationScienceAsh Vortices On Mt. Kīlauea. Fascinating Puahiohio’ ExplainedByMarshall Shepherd,Senior Contributor.Follow AuthorJun 15, 2026, 11:18am EDTSummaryStunning ash vortices, dubbed "volcano-nados," recently appeared on USGS webcams at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, captivating observers. These phenomena, though visually striking, are actually quite common, akin to desert dust devils or "puahiohio." They form from the intense heat generated by lava flows, which causes warm air to rise rapidly and rotate. This process, driven by significant temperature differences and angular momentum, lifts volcanic ash and debris into a visible vortex. Crucially, these ground-up formations differ from typical tornadoes, which descend from storm clouds, instead resembling weaker landspouts or waterspouts.Show More Several ash vortices in Hawaii were apparent on U.S. Geological Survey webcams this weekend. Molten lava might normally be the main attraction on Mt. Kilauea, but on June 14, an ash vortex parade was equally stunning. What are they, and how do they form?Dr. Tom Gill is a Professor of Geological Sciences and Environmental Science and Engineering at the University of Texas, El Paso. He originally tipped me off about the stunning images on his Facebook page over the weekend. “Volcano devil or possible volcanic landspout tornado (volcano-nado? vol-nado?) formed off fountaining lava at Kilauea at 12:21 PM Hawaii time,” wrote Gill. He shared several still images and videos. Large ash vortex on Mt. Kilauea.USGS Webcam via Dr. Tom GillWhy Do Ash Vortices Form?Though some people may think they are rare, ash vortices are actually more common than you may think and are similar to dust devils. “USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted post-episode-45 servicing of cameras along the south rim of Kīlauea caldera and witnessed a large dust devil, which is puahiohio in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, driven by heat rising from the hot lava flows on floor of Hale...