Icelandic volcanic ash

Iceland has been experiencing low level volcanic eruptions and associated seismic activity associated with Eyjafjallajökull Volcano since the March, 20 2010. This morning (Thursday, April 15) volcanic activity increased significantly.

The volcano is currently (as of 2pm on Wednesday, April 14) erupting to a height of approximately 11,000 metres.

The UK Met Office, in its role as a Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre with responsibility for the Icelandic region, is in ongoing contact with the Icelandic Meteorological Service and has issued a Volcanic Ash Advisory.

The current advice indicates that ash from the eruption will be transported eastwards towards Scandinavia. There is the potential that some ash will be transported across the northern Scottish islands, the northern Scottish coast and northeast England.

There is considerable uncertainty over the amount of ash being produced in the eruption, though the amount reaching the UK is currently not expected to be significant. The UK Met Office will continue to actively monitor the situation. Updated advisories will be issued at least every six hours until such time as it is considered that the volcanic ash cloud is no longer identifiable from satellite data, no further reports of volcanic ash are received from the area and no further eruptions of the volcano are reported.

Unless the eruption has a particularly high concentration of ash, it is unlikely that the concentrations of ash in the air over the UK would be sufficient to cause any health impacts.

The Met Office will update us over the next few days, or until no more ash is produced, and North East Lincolnshire Council will keep you informed.