HVO Scientist-in-charge, Ken Hon announced in a press briefing this morning that the forward progress of the two flows heading down the slopes of Mauna Loa toward the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) has slowed considerably since yesterday. The slowdown is due to the flows reaching flatter ground. The current flow front is approximately 3.3 miles south of the highway. Fissure three remains the most active vent feeding the flow. Hon indicated it is too early to say definitively if when the flow may impact the highway.

County of Hawai’i Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno announced that the county is working with the state and federal government to open portions of the old Saddle Road as an additional viewing area. The traffic flow will be one-way with visitors entering near the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area and exiting just west of Pu’uhulu. The area is expected to open later today, however an exact time has not been announced.