The Philippines' Mayon Volcano is once again threatening to erupt, whichwould be another mark on an already lengthy list of natural disasters for thecountry this year.Authorities began evacuating close to 50,000 people living in proximity to thevolcano Tuesday. Mayon has started to spew out some minor ash and lava, but alarge-scale eruption is predicted.
A major eruption could have impact well beyond the Philippines. Such aneruption would loft a massive cloud of ash high overhead.
Due to the seasonal southward displacement of the jet stream's high-levelwesterly winds, any such major ash cloud could be drawn into the busycross-Pacific flight paths, which would disrupt international air travel.
The Philippines has suffered a range of natural disasters this year. Foremostamong these was that of widespread major flooding and destructive windsunleashed by tropical cyclones.
At least 10 tropical cyclones affected, directly or indirectly, the Philippinesduring 2009. Two of these, Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) and Typhoon Parma (Pepeng),had severe, destructive weather impacts, mostly through flooding, on the islandnation.
Story by Accuweather.com Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews and AccuWeather.com'sGina Cherundolo
