Change in airflow to lower ash disruption risk

The threat of ash cloud from Iceland’s Eyjafjalljökull volcano causing further disruption to Irish airspace will recede from …

The threat of ash cloud from Iceland’s Eyjafjalljökull volcano causing further disruption to Irish airspace will recede from Thursday due to a change in airflow, Met Éireann has said.

Forecaster Evelyn Cusack said the risk of ash disruption would be lowered as the week progresses due to a shift in winds, with airflow changing to a northeasterly direction.

While the Icelandic Meteorological Office has confirmed an increase in activity from Eyjafjallajökull, the Volcanic Ash Advice Centre (VAAC) in London suggests that the risk of a further incursion of the volcanic ash cloud into Irish airspace is minimal for the next 24 hours.

Speaking to The Irish Times today, Ms Cusack said: "Northwesterly airflow brought the ash directly from Iceland to Europe. Airflow will remain northwesterly for the rest of today, tonight and tomorrow causing a danger of further ash".

READ MORE

She said any further eruptions over the weekend would be unlikely to affect flights in and out of Ireland as airflow is due to change to a northeasterly direction.