Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano is low, although the sulphur-dioxide flux remains elevated following the activity between 3 and 6 February.

The seismic network recorded one rockfall and one volcano-tectonic earthquake this week.

Sulphur dioxide measurements for the week gave an average flux of 910 tonnes/day with a maximum of 1236 and a minimum of 575 tonnes/day. An elevated level of flux has been observed ever since the activity that occurred between 3 and 6 February.

Pyroclastic flows can occur at any time without warning on any side of the volcano, including Gages from where they can travel rapidly into Plymouth. Tracks across the Belham valley are frequently destroyed or heavily modified by flash flooding or lahars, and caution should be exercised crossing the valley during and after rainfall.

The Hazard Level is 2. There is no access to Plymouth or Zone V. There is daytime access to Zone C: 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Saturday. Maritime zone W remains daytime transit only (boats may sail through the zone but must not stop).

MVO Weekly Report 15 February 2013
MVO Weekly Report 8 - 15 February 2013
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Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano is low, although there was a slight increase between 3 and 6 February. This involved VT earthquakes, an elevated gas flux and possibly light venting of ash. This type of activity has been observed on several occasions since the end of extrusion on 11 February 2010 and this week’s was the most intense since the ash-venting episode on 23-25 March 2012.

The seismic network recorded one rockfall, 25 volcano-tectonic earthquakes and two hybrid events this week. The VT earthquakes occurred mainly in four brief swarms, at 10:20 pm on 3 February, at 9:15 am and 9:50 pm on 4 February and at 6:20 am on 5 February (all local time). The second swarm was the most intense. One of the hybrid events occurred at the end of the second swarm and the other was an isolated event.

Sulphur dioxide measurements for the week gave an average flux of 929 tonnes/day with a maximum of 2381 and a minimum of 273 tonnes/day. The flux was not steady, with peaks of 962, 1266 and 2381 on 1, 4 and 6 February respectively. The last of these is the highest daily value since the ash-venting episode on 23-25 March 2012.

After the second, largest, VT swarm on 4 February, there were increases in the temperatures of several fumaroles inside the 11 February 2010 collapse scar, as observed using a handheld thermal infra-red camera at MVO, 5.7 km away. There was a further increase, as well as some loud roaring sounds, around the time of the third swarm. It is likely that the activity included minor ash venting from a large fumarole in the floor of the collapse scar as fresh ash deposits were observed adjacent to this fumarole on the morning of 5 February. All fumaroles had returned to background levels of activity and temperature by later that day.

Pyroclastic flows can occur at any time without warning on any side of the volcano, including Gages from where they can travel rapidly into Plymouth. Tracks across the Belham valley are frequently destroyed or heavily modified by flash flooding or lahars, and caution should be exercised crossing the valley during and after rainfall.

The Hazard Level is 2. There is no access to Plymouth or Zone V. There is daytime access to Zone C: 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Saturday. Maritime zone W remains daytime transit only (boats may sail through the zone but must not stop).

MVO Weekly Report 8 February 2013
MVO Weekly Report 1 to 8 February 2013
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Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano is low.

The seismic network recorded one rockfall and one volcano-tectonic earthquake this week.

Sulphur dioxide measurements for the week gave an average flux of 366 tonnes/day with a maximum of 529 and a minimum of 272 tonnes/day.

Pyroclastic flows can occur at any time without warning on any side of the volcano, including Gages from where they can travel rapidly into Plymouth. Tracks across the Belham valley are frequently destroyed or heavily modified by flash flooding or lahars, and caution should be exercised crossing the valley during and after rainfall.

The Hazard Level is 2. There is no access to Plymouth or Zone V. There is daytime access to Zone C: 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Saturday. Maritime zone W remains daytime transit only (boats may sail through the zone but must not stop).

MVO Weekly Report 1 February 2013
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Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano is low.

The seismic network recorded four rockfalls, two volcano-tectonic earthquakes and one long-period event this week.

Sulphur dioxide measurements for the week gave an average flux of 605 tonnes/day with a maximum of 2004 and a minimum of 164 tonnes/day. High flux occurred on only one day, 19 January, and 2004 tonnes/day is the highest daily value since the ash-venting episode on 23-25 March 2012.

Pyroclastic flows can occur at any time without warning on any side of the volcano, including Gages from where they can travel rapidly into Plymouth. Tracks across the Belham valley are frequently destroyed or heavily modified by flash flooding or lahars, and caution should be exercised crossing the valley during and after rainfall.

The Hazard Level is 2. There is no access to Plymouth or Zone V. There is daytime access to Zone C: 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Saturday. Maritime zone W remains daytime transit only (boats may sail through the zone but must not stop).

This report along with additional information on the Soufrière Hills Volcano, the Hazard Level System and a glossary of volcanic terms can be found at the MVO website: www.mvo.ms.

MVO Weekly Report 25 January 2013
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Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano is low.

The seismic network recorded no events this week.

Sulphur dioxide measurements for the week gave an average flux of 647 tonnes/day with a maximum of 1331 and a minimum of 277 tonnes/day. The highest values were from 12 to 14 January when the average flux was 1010 compared to 375 for the rest of the week.

Good visibility on several days this week revealed no changes to the dome. The distribution of fumaroles and other thermal features has not changed since the last observations of a completely clear dome were made in November 2012. Fumarole activity, particularly from the summit, appeared to be steamier than usual in the recent dry weather and is probably related to the elevated gas flux between 12 and 14 January.

Pyroclastic flows can occur at any time without warning on any side of the volcano, including Gages from where they can travel rapidly into Plymouth. Tracks across the Belham valley are frequently destroyed or heavily modified by flash flooding or lahars, and caution should be exercised crossing the valley during and after rainfall.

The Hazard Level is 2. There is no access to Plymouth or Zone V. There is daytime access to Zone C: 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Saturday. Maritime zone W remains daytime transit only (boats may sail through the zone but must not stop).

MVO Weekly Report 18 January 2013
MVO Weekly Report for the period 11 to 18 January 2013
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Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano is low.

The seismic network recorded one rockfall this week.

Sulphur dioxide measurements for the week gave an average flux of 364 tonnes/day with a maximum of 659 and a minimum of 191 tonnes/day.

Pyroclastic flows can occur at any time without warning on any side of the volcano, including Gages from where they can travel rapidly into Plymouth. Tracks across the Belham valley are frequently destroyed or heavily modified by flash flooding or lahars, and caution should be exercised crossing the valley during and after rainfall.

The Hazard Level is 2. There is no access to Plymouth or Zone V. There is daytime access (8:00 am to 4:00 pm) to Zone C. Maritime zone W remains daytime transit only (boats may sail through the zone but must not stop).

MVO Weekly Report 11 January 2013
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Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano is low.

The seismic network recorded two volcano-tectonic earthquakes this week.

Sulphur dioxide measurements for the week gave an average flux of 404 tonnes/day with a maximum of 910 and a minimum of 192 tonnes/day.

Pyroclastic flows can occur at any time without warning on any side of the volcano, including Gages from where they can travel rapidly into Plymouth. Tracks across the Belham valley are frequently destroyed or heavily modified by flash flooding or lahars, and caution should be exercised crossing the valley during and after rainfall.

The Hazard Level is 2. There is no access to Plymouth or Zone V. There is daytime access (8:00 am to 4:00 pm) to Zone C. Maritime zone W remains daytime transit only (boats may sail through the zone but must not stop).

MVO Weekly Report 4 January 2013
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 Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano is low.

The seismic network recorded three rockfalls and ten volcano-tectonic earthquakes during this week. Nine of these VT earthquakes occurred as a very brief swarm on 24 December.

Sulphur dioxide measurements gave an average of 313 tonnes/day with a maximum of 639 and a minimum of 207 tonnes/day.

Pyroclastic flows can occur at any time without warning on any side of the volcano, including Gages from where they can travel rapidly into Plymouth. Tracks across the Belham valley are frequently destroyed or heavily modified by flash flooding or lahars, and caution should be exercised crossing the valley during and after rainfall.

The Hazard Level is 2. There is no access to Plymouth or Zone V. There is daytime access (8:00 am to 4:00 pm) to Zone C. Maritime zone W remains daytime transit only (boats may sail through the zone but must not stop).