Weather School Musing...'Smoking' is bad for your aircraft!

[weatherman]

Good morning,

You may have heard the news this morning about flights in the UK being severely disrupted due to a volcanic ash cloud drifting across the country following the eruption of an Icelandic volcano yesterday.

The ash is invisible, although can cause severe damage to aircraft engines, and there are documented cases of ash causing the total failure of engines in flight.

So, where is this cloud? Well, you can’t see it from satellite, but the UK Meteorological Office (as one of the World Aviation Area Forecast centres) does issue advisories about such events.

You can see the forecast charts of where the cloud will be, and to what height here
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation/va ... 309704.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The problem for those travelling is that the cloud is drifting south. Notice how the cloud ‘hits’ Heathrow and Gatwick this afternoon, so that’s when the real disruption could occur, although by then it is starting to move away from western Scotland and western Ireland.

My suspicion is that things are going to get worse, before they get better!

Have a good day.

Simon

[Mark]

volcanic ash cloud drifting across the country following the eruption of an Icelandic volcano

As a Daily Mail reader I want to know what effect this will have on house prices, is it caused by immigration and is there a Diana connection of any kind?

[Aja]

We're sitting here with fingers x'd as we are due to fly from Prestwick to Palma on Saturday afternoon.......



......or



......alternatively we will be going sailing on Aja for a few days.....

Regards
Donald

[weatherman]

Ooooo, no promises there!

[weatherman]

Morning

Latest Volcanic Ash forecast issued at 7.18am this morning is not good news I am afraid. Thats because the cloud of volcanic ash is forecast to stay across the UK, Ireland and much of northern France, Germany and the Low Countries until at least midnight tonight, and I cannot see any change in this position through Saturday either. Of course you should check with your airlines if you are due to fly.



Simon

[Aja]

Well, Ryanair have cancelled all flights to Monday morning, so it is down to Aja tomorrow and away for a few days until Wednesday. Hope the weather holds good.....

Regards
Donald

[Bodach na mara]

Wrap up well Donald. We were out today and it was lovely and sunny.

But it was fu-fu-fureezing!

[Aja]

It will be a good chance to try out the thermal longjohns I got for my Xmas. I was going to keep them for the CCC Irisha overnight races...

Regards

Donald