Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that during 20-27 February activity from the Soufrière Hills lava dome was at a low level. On 24 February, a pyroclastic flow traveled E as far as the previous Tar River Valley coastline. The next day, a pyroclastic flow that traveled halfway down Tyre’s Ghaut produced a small ash plume that drifted W. [...]

Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that during 13-20 February activity from the Soufrière Hills lava dome was at a low level. Four rockfalls were detected and seismicity had increased slightly compared to previous weeks. On 16 February, heavy rainfall triggered a small pyroclastic flow on the N side of the lava dome and a substantial lahar NW in [...]

Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that during 6-13 February activity from the Soufrière Hills lava dome was at a low level. Two rockfalls were detected and seismicity was low. On 13 February, one small pyroclastic flow that originated in a gully on the N side of the lava dome traveled less than 1 km. The Hazard Level remained [...]

Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that during 30 January-6 February activity from the Soufrière Hills lava dome increased slightly, although seismic activity was low. Three rockfalls were detected. On 5 February, one small pyroclastic flow that originated in a gully on the N side of the lava dome traveled less than 1 km and stopped in Tyre’s Ghaut [...]

Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that during 2-3 January activity from the Soufrière Hills lava dome increased drastically. On 2 January, an energetic pyroclastic flow and associated surge traveled down Tyers Ghaut (NW) and reached the upper part of Belham River. On 3 January, after a period of elevated seismicity, two explosions produced ash plumes to altitudes greater [...]

Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that during 19-26 December activity from Soufrière Hills lava dome was characterized by increased lava extrusion, rockfalls, and pyroclastic flows. Lava extrusion on the N, W, and SW sides of the dome continued and incandescence on the dome was visible at night when weather was favorable. Rockfall events increased by 80 percent compared [...]

Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that seismicity from Soufrière Hills lava dome remained elevated during 6-10 December. On 10 December, seven pyroclastic flows traveled W down Gages Valley, at least two reached Plymouth (about 5 km W). A few small pyroclastic flows were detected during 11-12 December. Monitoring data indicated that the volcano continued to inflate.
Based on analysis [...]

Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that during 31 October-7 November the activity level at the Soufrière Hills lava dome was low and there was no evidence of lava extrusion. Photographs taken during an aerial inspection of the dome confirmed that the SE side was a very high (150-200 m) free-standing cliff not supported by talus. Erosion continued on [...]

Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that during 3-10 October, the activity level at the Soufrière Hills lava dome was slightly higher than the previous week and consisted mainly of rockfalls and mudflows. As a result of slow and continuous erosion of the lower part of the dome, rockfalls occurred on both the W side in the gully over [...]

Soufriére Hills, Montserrat, West Indies

MVO reported that during 22-29 August, observations suggested that the W side of the Soufrière Hills lava dome continued to grow. Lahars descended numerous river valleys during 25-27 August. Incandescence originating from a scar on lava dome created by the 28 July explosion, and then further expanded by a pyroclastic flow on 25 August, was [...]