BACKGROUND: SOUFRIERE HILLS MONTSERRAT (1600-05)
SUMMIT HEIGHT 3000 FT (915M)
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SOURCES OF INFORMATION: MONTSERRAT VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
(MVO)...GUADELOUPE UPPER AIR SOUNDING AND GOES-8 INFRARED AND
MULTISPECTRAL IMAGERY.
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ERUPTION DETAILS: MVO REPORTS ERUPTION OCCURRED AT 21/2350 UTC.
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DETAILS OF ASH CLOUD: THE MONTSERRAT VOLCANO OBSERVATORY REPORTED AN
ERUPTION OF SOUFRIERE HILLS AT 21/2350 UTC. RAINFALL ASSOCIATED
WITH TROPICAL STORM JOSE HAS RESULTED IN A COLLAPSE OF THE DOME WITH
SUBSEQUENT ASH VENTING. THE GUADELOUPE UPPER AIR SOUNDING SUGGESTED
THAT NORTHWARD MOVING ASH COULD REACHED FL150. THE OBSERVATORY
INDICATED THAT ADDITIONAL DOME COLLAPSES MAY OCCUR.
CURRENTLY..22/1815 UTC..THE AREA IS COVERED WITH DENSE CLOUDINESS
MAKING DETECTION OF ANY VOLCANIC ASH IMPOSSIBLE.
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