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".

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.

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