(BIVN) – On Tuesday, scientists issued a new Volcanic Activity Notice for Kilauea on Hawaii Island.

According to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, observations suggest that the magma system beneath Puʻu ʻŌʻō has become increasingly pressurized. If this activity continues, USGS says, a new vent could form at any time. The new vent could be on the Puʻu ʻŌʻō cone, or along adjacent areas of the East Rift Zone.

Since mid-March 2018, instruments on Puʻu ʻŌʻō have recorded a pronounced inflationary trend of the cone (USGS graph below).

Webcams have also detected uplift of Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater floor by several meters. These observations provide evidence that magma is accumulating at shallow depths, USGS says.

Similar episodes of inflation and uplift of the crater floor at Pu’u ‘Ō’ō occurred in May–June 2014 and May 2016. These episodes preceded the opening of new vents on Puʻu ʻŌʻō.

The June 27th, 2014 flow eventually threatened Pāhoa in late 2014 and early 2015. The 61g flow began in May 2016, which led to the most recent lava ocean entry. The ocean entry is no longer active.

Here is the complete notice as it was issued by USGS: