Mt. Fitzherbert
USGS Update 2004-Dec-18 10:30
Potential ash hazards: Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift southeastward early in the day. Later in the day, ash clouds would drift northward at low altitude and eastward at higher altitude.
Recent observations: This morning, a white vapor plume is again visible rising above the crater rim and drifting off southward. The gas-sensing flight cancelled by Thursday's conditions took place yesterday. Results should be available in the update tomorrow or Monday. No field work is planned for the weekend. Similar to Thursday night, three more earthquakes of magnitude 2.7 to 3.1 occurred last night amidst the ongoing pattern of frequent smaller earthquakes. Such swarms have occurred on several occasions during the past month.