Mount Aso Volcano Erupts in Southern Japan

By Brian Lada, Meteorologist

September 14,2015; 10:33PM,EDT

 

Mount Aso, a volcano located on Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu, erupted on Monday morning, local time, sending a plethora of smoke and ash 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) into the sky.
The eruption began at 8:49 p.m. EDT, or 9:49 a.m. GMT, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
There have been no reports of injuries from the eruption.
Shortly after the eruption, All Nippon Airways announced that they had canceled six flights to avoid the plume of ash. Japan Airlines also canceled flights.
"High pressure over the Sea of Japan will keep a northeast flow across the area through Thursday. Areas that could see falling ash would be to the southwest of the volcano," AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said.

Thick Ash Cloud Surrounds Japan's Mount Aso After Eruption

The volcano alert level on Mount Aso is currently a scale of 3 out of 5, meaning those in the area are warned not to approach the volcano due to the potential for further eruptions, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Areas on the leeward side of the volcano may experience ash falling to the ground within a few kilometers of the volcano.
In this image taken from a surveillance camera observed from Kusasenri and released by Japan Meteorological Agency, a column of black smoke rises from Mount Aso, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. (Japan Meteorological Agency via AP)
Some light volcanic ash fell across Kumamota after the big eruption. Kumamota is about 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) to the west-southwest of Mount Aso.
"Low pressure will bring rain across the area later Tuesday into Wednesday and the will flow become lighter and more variable, so the ash may not travel too far," Douty said. "During the second half of the week, the wind will come from the northwest, pushing any ash towards the Pacific."
Mount Aso is one of the largest active volcanoes in the world and recently erupted in November of 2014, according to the Japan Times.
This 2014 eruption marked the first time it spewed lava in over two decades.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun contributed content to