Second Alaska Volcano Erupts

Pavlof ejects ash and steam, as lava flows down its NW flank

Pavlof Volcano, the second Volcano in the Aleutians to become active, began erupting on Monday and was still spewing clouds of ash and steam on Wednesday, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) said.

The volcano has been emitting intermittent dark clouds of ash and steam rising up to 20,000 feet a.s.l. and drifting in a northeasterly direction, the observatory said.

• Mt Cleveland, the other currently active Alaskan volcano, has been erupting intermittently since 2011.

• Volcanic ash from Pavlof and other Alaska volcanoes could pose a threat to air traffic in the region.

Pavlof Activity: Color Code ORANGE  – Alert Level WATCH

• PAVLOF VOLCANO (CAVW #1102-03-) 55°25’2″ N 161°53’37” W
• Summit Elevation:  2,518 m (8261 ft)

Pavlof Volcano in eruption. View is from the southwest in Cold Bay. Lava fountaining is visible near the summit, and steam and ash clouds rise from the northwest flank where a lava flow advances down the slope. May 14, 2013 11:26 AM AKDT. Credit: Rachel Kremer/AVO

Index map showing location of Pavlof volcano and other Alaska Peninsula volcanoes.  Credit: Janet Schaefer/AVO

Location of Cleveland volcano and other Aleutian volcanoes with respect to nearby cities and towns.  Credit: Janet Schaefer/AVO

The following report is mirrored from AVO

ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 12:40 PM AKDT (May 15, 2013 20:40UTC)

PAVLOF VOLCANO (CAVW #1102-03-)
55°25’2″ N 161°53’37” W, Summit Elevation 8261 ft (2518 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

The eruption of Pavlof Volcano continues. Elevated seismic activity persists and a steam and ash cloud are visible in web camera images rising occasionally up to about 20,000 ft. above sea level. A diffuse ash plume was reported late last night at an altitude of 15,000 above sea level and extending downwind to the northeast for up to 100 miles before dissipating. A recent pilot report today indicated a dark ash cloud extending east-northeast at an altitude of 20,000 above sea level. National Weather Service issued a Sigmet yesterday that remains active today.

Residents of Cold Bay, located 37 miles southwest of the volcano, observed incandescent glow at the summit during the night. Pilot reports and photographs from yesterday afternoon indicate that the lava flow extending down the northwest flank is still active and has generated debris-laden flow deposits, presumably from interaction of hot lava with the snow and ice on the flank.

CLEVELAND VOLCANO (CAVW #1101-24-)
52°49’20” N 169°56’42” W, Summit Elevation 5676 ft (1730 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Elevated surface temperatures continued at Cleveland Volcano over the past 24 hours. No explosions have been detected by regional infrasound data. There has been no further information about the lava flow.

Sudden explosions of blocks and ash are possible with little or no warning. Ash clouds, if produced, could exceed 20,000 feet above sea level. If a large ash-producing event occurs, nearby seismic, infrasound, or volcanic lightning networks should alert AVO staff quickly. However, for some events, a delay of several hours is possible. Cleveland Volcano does not have a local seismic network and is monitored using only distant seismic and infrasound instruments and satellite data.

AVO will continue to monitor these volcanoes and issue additional information as available.

Code Definitions
ORANGE Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, OR eruption is underway with no or minor volcanic-ash emissions [ash-plume height specified, if possible].

WATCH: Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, OR eruption is underway but poses limited hazards.

VOLCANO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET: http://www.avo.alaska.edu
RECORDING ON THE STATUS OF ALASKA’S VOLCANOES (907) 786-7478

CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Power, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

Jeff Freymueller, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
jeff.freymueller@gi.alaska.edu (907) 378-7556

MAHASEN Strikes Bangladesh

Tropical Storm MAHASEN crossing Bangladesh’s coast

The storm reportedly hit Patuakhali district on Bangladesh coast earlier today, with winds of about 100km/h (60mph), and continued moving toward the ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar.

• The storm has claimed at least 4 lives so far, according to early reports.

• “In Bangladesh, there have been reports of waist-deep water submerging low-lying areas and houses being damaged. There are also fears of a storm surge,” said a report.

MAHASEN Water Vapor Satellite Image –  Dated 2013/05/16 @ 06:30UTC. Source: CIMSS

Continued…

Related Links

• Deadly MAHASEN Threatens Bangladesh, Myanmar
• TS MAHASEN: The Rain Monster
• Satellite Imagery

Deadly Tornado Hits Texas

A dozen dead, more than 100 injured as N. Texas tornado flattens scores of homes

A deadly tornado hit Granbury in Hood County, Texas Wednesday night, claiming a dozen lives, injuring more than 100 others and destroying scores of homes.

There are also reports of an unknown number of people being trapped under the debris.

• The powerful twister that hit Hood County was part of a system of severe thunderstorms that spawned at least two other tornadoes across North Texas.

• A spokesman for MedStar Mobile Healthcare, told reporters the tornado had touched down several times in Hood, Tarrant, Dallas and Parker counties.

• “With these types of tornadoes, they touch down; they lift up; they touch down. They tend to hopscotch,” he said.

Three tornadoes hit Hood and Montague counties, northern Texas. Image source: SPC.

Probability (%) of Tornado in May (1980-1994). Source: NSSL/NOAA

The probability of having one or more days with a tornado within 25 miles of a point sometime during a month. The base data for all tornadoes are the reports from 1980-1994 and for significant and violent tornadoes are the reports from 1921-1995. The values are probabilities in percent. Source: Severe Thunderstorms Climatology

Continued …