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 south-southwestward to southeastward.

Recent observations: The eruption continues with no significant changes in the past day. Field crews took advantage of a break in the weather on February 15-16 to make visual observations and temperature measurements in the crater, repair damaged equipment, measure the output of volcanic gases, and collect rock samples from the active portion of the growing dome. Preliminary analysis shows no significant changes in temperature, in the low flux of volcanic gases, or in the character of lava being erupted. The weather forecast for the rest of this week suggests that field operations are unlikely.