Montserrat volcanic activity
 

Do we have any reports from fodorites on Saturdays big event? The ash cloud must have dispersed by now , I've been hearing of cruise ships covered in ash , high tidal waves on Antigua in the Jolly Harbour area and visability affected in BVI's. I'm leaving for Barbados tomorrow and probably won't see any evidence of it at all . Has the volcano gone back to sleep? Thanks.

Everything seems to be back to normal since the dome collapse on Saturday. We've had some of the smell and some haziness in our area north of the island, and American Airline flights were cancelled in and out of St. Maarten for a couple of days due to ash, but otherwise things are fine now. I saw in my local paper yesterday that tourists are now welcome back on Montserrat, so I assume everything is okay again.

I've been away and didn't hear about Montserrat--was anybody injured?

no one was injured, thnkfully.
Here is the volcano web site
http://www.mvo.ms/
and this is another web page with soem information from the island.
http://stormcarib.com/reports/current/montserrat.shtml

I've not been able to get into the observatory website - I am going to shoot a couple of e-mails down there & see if I can get some more info. To answer the original question, its not really been asleep for a long time, just varying stages of unrest.

Here on St. John we had some ash in the sky for a few days. Today seems much clearer than yesterday so I think most of it has blown away now. :)

SAnParis
the link I posted works fine.
I just went to the web site and got in with no problem

So the volcano isn't sleeping merely taking a light nap. I hope everyone on that beautiful island is ok .p.s Barbados trip report when I return. Thanks.

We were just there in Mar. & actually were lucky to get out as we had a couple of days of 'ash showers'. You could tell then something would be happening fairly soon due to the dome growth. Barb - I monitor that site all the time but if it is busy my work computer times out pretty quickly. Glad to here it is functional. I'll check it from home.

Heard back from our friends in Montserrat...it seems they had some ash but a thunderstorm the following day pretty much washed away any evidence of the prior volcanic activity. Very little impact on the island outside of the exclusion zone + some flights were cancelled.

yea, we had some flights canclled to St. Maarten too. but thank God nothing serious happened to the people on Montserrat

Barbara _ Where is your home base again ?

I live on St. Maarten

Barb - I wasn't sure if you resided there or one of the neighboring islands...know anything about Saba ?

I think Statia knows more about Saba. I haven't been over there in a long time
but it is a beautiful island. Walking up
the steps through the rain forest is a special experience.
and the whole island is charming with little gingerbread housews nestled on the sides of the hills.
very cute island

We plan to return to Montserrat either later this year or early next year & are seeking another island to include for 3 days or so. The fewer inhabitants, the better. Any other suggestions ?

Oh, I would definitely try Saba then. it is lovely and a very special experience.
another choice might be Barbuda. very quiet and laid back with stunning beaches.

I agree....it sounds like you would enjoy Saba, SAnParis.

I looked at Barbuda but it is $$$pricey$$$ from everything I see. I think Saba may be a good contrast for the wife & little ones to Montserrat. One of my employees stayed at one of the eco-lodges there & loved it. +, what better way to tire out the little ones than to make them hike up & down a Mt. ? Thx again...

I think Saba is a good choice. it's very different. just remember. there are no beaches there though.
but it is beautiful ..all 5 square miles of it :-)