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COURTESY U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
Kilauea’s lava, charring forest land Tuesday, could hit Highway 130 in 28 days at its present rate.
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The front of a lava flow spewing out of Kilauea Volcano advanced 120 to 150 yards and was within one mile of Apaa Street in Pahoa on Tuesday.
The flow remained "fairly narrow" and was 0.95 mile from reaching Apaa Street near the waste transfer station, said Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira.
Also, the front of the flow was 1.6 miles from Village Road and 1.9 miles from Pahoa Bypass Road, Oliveira said.
Steve Brantley, acting scientist in charge for the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, said the changing nature of the flow makes predictions difficult. But, based on typical movements of about 120 meters per day, the front of the flow could reach Apaa Street two weeks from Wednesday and hit Highway 130 in about 28 days.
The flow rate has fluctuated wildly from nothing "to perhaps 450 meters per day," Brantley said. "So you have to be very careful. It’s just an extended projection."
Oliveira reiterated that Civil Defense officials will give "days’ notice of any potential for evacuation. We’re still quite a ways out."
The June 27 lava flow started its course toward Hawaii island’s Pahoa town from Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo vent in late June. Since Sept. 22 its pace has slowed and, at times, stalled.
