Volcanic Ash — Rota, Guam

2003-05-26 to 2003-05-28 · Rota, Guam

Wider weather episode

May 26th and 27th. Westerly winds across the Pacific brought thin clouds of ash from the volcano over Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. These clouds had originally blown westward from the volcano by easterly winds out over the Pacific Ocean. Changing wind currents caused by typhoon Chan-hom and a monsoon trough in the area, redirected the ash plume over the Mariana islands.The VOG caused low visibilities over the coastal waters of Tinian and Saipan. The poor visibility caused by the volcanic haze was one of the main reasons why a 21 foot boat carrying four Japanese tourist, a captain and his crew mate got lost at sea for 24 hors before they were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on the morning of the 28th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5355987. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.