Volcanic activity at the Soufriere Hills volcano during the night has continued at about the same level as observed during the day time. The low amplitude broadband tremor that dominated the seismicity during the past several days changed in character at around 17:00 on 03 May 1996 from near-continuous to intermittent. Many small to moderate sized rockfalls were recorded. The small hybrid earthquakes have reappeared and are now occurring at a rate of about one every two to three minutes.
Visibility during the early morning period from Bramble Airport and the Observatory has been fair. There is continuous steam emission from the dome, especially from the southeast section, and intermittent rockfalls from the eastern, northeastern and northern sectors of the dome.
The MVO still views the situation at the Soufriere Hills Volcano with grave concern and the scientists continue to urge that visits to the evacuated zone be kept to a minimum. The Tar River, Long Ground and Whites areas are extremely dangerous, and should not be entered under any circumstances.