Mt. Fitzherbert

Potential ash hazards: Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that any ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift in greatly different directions depending on altitude and time of day. Ash clouds at low altitudes (below about 15,000 feet) would drift westward early in the day and southwestward to southward later. Those at higher altitudes would drift eastward to southeastward throughout the day.

Potential ash hazards to aviation: Under current eruptive conditions, small, short-lived explosions may produce ash clouds that exceed 30,000 feet in altitude. Ash from such events can travel 100 miles or more downwind.

Recent observations: Poor visibility, owing to weather clouds and moderate steam clouds rising from the growing lava dome, caused cancellation of today's field work. When conditions improve, we will sling new instruments into the crater and make observations.