Fall in ash may be lull before storm

ICELANDIC scientists have described the latest quiet phase of the volcano, which has wreaked havoc on airlines, as a calm before the next expected storm of activity.

While the ash plume from Eyjafjallajökull has declined in the last few days and winds have been favourable, enabling Irish and European airlines to operate as normal, the picture could soon change, scientists have warned. The spread of rising ash dropped to under 5km in width this week for the first time.

Volcanic activity has also decreased to a large extent, but those monitoring the site say this “could be a calm phase before further eruptions”.

The mainly south-westerly airflow will persist through the rest of the week and should keep the ash away from Irish airspace, Met Éireann reported.

An absence of cloud cover yesterday led to a significant and welcome increase in temperature.

Today will be warm again and mostly dry with good spells of sunshine, and highest temperatures of 18C to 24C. Tonight will be mostly dry with clear spells, and with just light variable breezes, some patches of mist and fog will develop. Another very mild night, with temperatures falling no lower than 10C to 13C, forecasters said.

This weekend will remain mostly dry and settled countrywide, with good spells of sunshine after early morning mist and fog has lifted.

Early next week will see a return to “much cooler and cloudier weather especially across the north,” Met Éireann stated.