There was no visible flow of lava back into the vent after the pause, and the gradual drop in lava level is more likely because of loss of gas bubbles — summit lavas are 50% or more bubbles — or very slow leaking of lava into the vent beneath the crust.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that activity stopped at about 8:40 p.m. Friday, putting the eruption that started during the early morning of Dec. 23 on pause for a third time. There is no lava draining back into the southern vent, which was the only vent actively erupting at the same time.

The eruption at Kīlauea volcano that began on Monday, Dec. 23 remains paused as of 8:40 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Glow from the crater floor remains but is much diminished from the previous night.