Vanuatu Island's Mount Yasur is erupting volcanic ash and threatening airtravel in the South Pacific.According to AccuWeather.com meteorologists, upper-level winds appear to betaking any fresh ash from Mount Yasur southeastward away from much of NewZealand.
The New Zealand Met Office reported the eruption of Mount Yasur occurringsince Saturday, local time, and currently continuing to erupt.
As long as the volcano remains active, flight delays across New Caledoniaand extreme northern New Zealand are possible over the next couple of days.
Minor flight delays have resulted across New Caledonia, and tourists havebeen prohibited from visiting the volcano. The water supply on Vanuatu has beensignificantly contaminated with volcanic ash.
The Associated Press reported the ash cloud from Mount Yasur rising 1,800meters and covering an area of 130 square miles.
Vanuatu, an island nation, is located in the South Pacific between Australiaand Fiji and to the north of New Zealand.
(content contributed by AccuWeather.com Senior Forecaster JasonNicholls.)Story by Carly Porter, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer.
