Good visibility today enabled scientists to make observations of the Galways side of the volcano. There is a large new dome above Galways with a blocky surface and several spines. This dome has grown rapidly in size over the last few days suggesting that the growth rate is still high at about 6-8 cubic metres per second. Rockfall material is being shed from the dome directly down two channels into the upper part of White River valley. There is almost continuous steam and ash venting from behind this new dome in the north west sector of the volcano.
The level of seismic activity was lower in the last 24 hours than it has been for the last few days. The hybrid earthquakes are continuing but they are mostly small and are now also further apart. This afternoon there was a period of tremor punctuated by hybrid earthquakes and rockfall signals. In the 24 hours up to 4 O'clock this afternoon there were 110 hybrid earthquakes, 11 long period earthquakes and 44 rockfalls.
The new dome is growing fast and further pyroclastic flows are likely in any of the ghauts around the volcano but especially in the White River valley. The growth may switch to a different sector of the volcano at any time.