Activity at the Soufriere Hills Volcano over the last 24 hours has remained at about the same level. Pyroclastic flows have continued into Tuitt's Ghaut with the largest one just a few minutes after midnight this morning (Thursday). For the last 24 hours there has been almost continuous activity in the ghaut and flows have now travelled about 2 kilometres from the crater rim.
Most of yesterday (Weds) there was continuous ash production with the ash being blown to the west and light ashfalls in the Plymouth area.
During a brief period yesterday the cloud lifted from the dome and it was observed that there is now a prominent channel on the northern side of the dome caused by the recent pyroclastic flows in Tuitt's Ghaut. These flows are clearly visible from Harris' and they have reached the last bend in the ghaut before the stretch that leads to Paradise River.
The level of earthquake activity remains very low with just 11 events in the last 24 hours.
A COSPEC measurement was taken from the helicopter yesterday and the results will be reported later. Scientists visited Chances Peak yesterday to carry out GPS measurements and to service the accelerometer which is placed there. The crack on the eastern side of Chances Peak was measured and it has had further shear movement of 19 mm since it was last measured on May 23rd.
The revised risk map will be published later today and the alert level remains at ORANGE. Everyone is urged to keep clear of southern and eastern areas and the central corridor as they are all exposed to danger from pyroclastic flows.
The summit is covered in cloud this morning but there are ash clouds quite evident as we write.
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