Mt. Fitzherbert

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 chiefly eastward.

Recent observations: The volcano is obscured by clouds this morning and data from field sites show that it has been raining and streams draining the crater have higher water flows. New instrumentation packages, including video camera, gas sensor, GPS, and seismometer, installed on and near the new lava dome on Friday stopped transmitting data early Sunday morning. The exact cause is not known owing to poor visibility, but interpretation of seismic and other data suggest that a rockfall and perhaps a steam and ash emission generated small flows of ash or falls of rock fragments that damaged the instruments. In the 24 hr prior to the event, the GPS on the north end of the new lava dome moved southward and upward more than 8 meters showing that dome extrusion continues at a vigorous pace. Assessment of conditions in the crater awaits improved visibility.