Iceland volcano eruption update - Met Office - 19 May
Wednesday 19, May 2010
Latest information received from the Icelandic Meteorological Office indicates that the volcano is continuing to erupt, with the ash plume reaching heights of up to around 18,000 ft. However, the ash cloud is not expected to affect UK airspace as south westerly winds persist through the rest of the week.
Icelandic Met Office report
According to radar and pilots’ observations, the plume has been slightly lower today than yesterday, at 5-6 km (18,000-20,000 ft). Southerly winds prevailed this morning over the volcano, turning to the southwest at 15-18 m/s. The plume drifted northwest early this morning, but then turned north-northeast, and its colour is gray or light gray. The number of lightning strikes has decreased.
Ash has fallen in the south at Flúðir, Fljótshlíð and Rangárþing ytra. Ash has also fallen with rainfall in the north, in Húsavík and Skagafjörður, right before noon.
Heavy rainfall caused swelling of Eyjafjallajökull rivers today. The rain, together with ash from an area of a few square kilometers, resulted in a mudslide in Svaðbæli river. Hydrologists from IMO, and a scientist from IES, gathered samples from the river and also from Skógar river. The discharge at the old bridge over Markarfljót river has not been greater since 15 April. The discharge at Gígjökull is still low.
The plume is up to 5-6 km and drifts to the north-northeast according to reconnaissance flight from the Icelandic Coast Guard this afternoon. The above is based on a status report issued collectively by the Icelandic Meteorological Office and the Institute of Earth Sciences at 17:00.
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