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 northward early in the day and north-northeastward later.

Recent observations: Clouds are gradually building at the volcano this morning and weather conditions are expected to deteriorate as the day progresses. The average size of small, background drumbeat earthquakes has picked up a bit over the past few days causing a minor increase in the seismic energy release. GPS sensors in the crater, however, show little change in movement. This eruption has been characterized by episodes of waxing and waning seismicity, so the current minor increase does not constitute a significant change in activity. When weather allows, field crews plan to install water sensor probes and collect samples from creeks draining the crater, to replace and install new cameras, and to obtain new aerial photography.