Monitoring of the Soufriere Hills Volcano during this reporting period was made difficult by the weather conditions. However, there has been no significant change in the level of activity.
The passage of Hurricane Bertha through the Lesser Antilles generated high levels of microseismic noise on all the seismic stations throughout the reporting period. High noise levels make the seismic data-acquisition system less sensitive and it was only possible to detect the larger seismic events. The system detected 3 rockfalls, 3 long-period events, 3 hybrid events, 1 VT event and 1 regional event. The true levels of activity were greater than this and were probably similar to the previous few days.
Viewing conditions were poor and the summit was obscured by cloud all day.
GPS measurements were made today at stations on the north and east side of the volcano. This data is still being processed. No EDM or COSPEC measurements were made due to the weather conditions.
The Soufriere Hills Volcano is still highly dangerous to people and property on it's eastern and upper western flanks. Visits to the evacuated zone must be kept to a minimum. The Tar River, Long Ground and Whites areas to the east and upper Fort Ghaut, Gages Village and Upper Amersham areas to the west are all extremely dangerous. All access roads remain closed and people should not enter these areas under any circumstances. If they do, they put themselves and others at direct risk of serious injury or death.