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 east-northeastward early in the day and eastward later. Johnston Ridge and Highway 504 should generally be spared of any ash fall under these conditions.

Recent observations: The crater is obscured by clouds this morning and may remain so for the day. Yesterday crews surveyed features and targets on the lava dome from the crater mouth and rim, installed additional broad-band seismometers, and examined the glacier and dome for potential sites for GPS spiders. Observations reveal that the smooth lava spine continues to grow and has increased in height by many meters in just the past few days. It is now as tall as or taller than it has ever been. In the coming days and weeks, rockfalls are likely to occur.