Wind Change Bringing Volcanic Ash and Sahara Dust *Update: No USVI Impact*

The National Weather Service now projects volcanic ash will impact the U.S. Virgin Islands. (National Weather Service image)

Update: Thursday the National Weather Service revised its projection again and said there is currently no imminent threat of volcanic ash hitting the U.S. Virgin Islands. They forecast light and variable winds near the surface and westerly mid-to upper-level winds, keeping ash at the lower levels to the vicinity of St. Vincent, and carrying it over the Atlantic at higher altitudes. This wind pattern will prevail through Friday, keeping the ash plume away from Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands. Locally, light northerly wind flow will prevail at low levels through today into early Friday, shifting to the east-southeast due to high pressure moving into the Atlantic.

At this moment, there will be no impacts from the volcanic ash in our region. However, if there are more eruptions during the next several days, and the low-to-mid level winds increase significantly, then there is the possibility for some of the suspended ash to move closer to the USVI and Puerto Rico region.