Rare ‘lavanado’ recorded in Hawaii as vortex cloud circles spewing lava. See it

Two forces of nature merged in a Hawaii volcano when a superheated whirlwind began dancing around a gushing lava fountain, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The rare sight was recorded Sept. 2 at Kilauea volcano, and scientists noted it was whipping up loose ash and spattering lava in the 520-foot-wide crater.

USGC officials tossed out multiple names to describe the phenomenon, including “volnado,” “lavanado” and “lava whirlwind.”

“They may not be scientific terms, but they are fun to say,” the department wrote. “These whirlwinds have been observed during several eruptive episodes and are caused by the chaotic mixing of hot and cold air.”

A similar vortex was filmed in 2023 at the volcano, and it was seen absorbing hot lava and “flinging pieces of crust,” video shows.

To encounter a “lavanado” would likely be deadly. The winds are tremendously hot, with temperatures during the eruptions around 2,100 degrees, scientists say.

The color of the “incandescent rock” gives away the lava temperature, the USGS says.

• .Yellow indicates 1,832–2,192 degrees Fahrenheit
• Orange is about 1,472–1,832 degrees Fahrenheit
• Red is 1,112–1,472 degrees Fahrenheit

The 280,000-year-old volcano is the most active on the island of Hawaii and considered to be “one of the busiest in the world,” according to the National Park Service.

This story was originally published September 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Rare ‘lavanado’ recorded in Hawaii as vortex cloud circles spewing lava. See it."