Icelandic volcano - Grimsvotn eruption

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

starting a thread here about it as it is possible there may be some air travel disruption perhaps from it. I don't think it will be on the scale of Eyjaf from what i've been reading but it is possible that the back edge of tomorrows storm may bring the ash over uk space. If it does then the amount of disruption caused will depend on the type of ash (at the moment coarser I believe than Eyjafs eruption, so less likely to hang around) and the height and density of the plume. I'll spend a bit of time later trawling the boards and news to try and get a better feel for probabilities.

My mum has just had a text from Ryanair - her flight has been cancelled

AF - crossing everything for you too.

Just seen that several airlines including BA and sleazyjet have cancelled flights into/from Scotland. Fingers crossed it blows over quickly and things get back to normal very soon. A bit worried as lots of teenage girls DD included are due to be flying out here from boarding schools on Saturday and god knows what will happen to them all if flights cancelled

Another day; another ashcast. Think another one's due in the next 1/2 hour.

checked in at home and planes are still going overhead from Stansted .DD is of to spain on thursday with my friends luckily they are driving and have ferry booked

morning all! Going to be out for much of the day so I'm trying to get a head start.

wannabe - they can only fly if the CAA approve the plan and give them authority to do so.

According to radio 4 ash cloud has moved slower than expected. (unsure if this is good longer term)

looking at this concentration cast looks like (unless anything changes) it will only be Scotland that can't fly today - much of the rest of the uk will be under med density - so probably delays and extra engine inspections I'd guess?

One of the webcams I said wasn't working upthread, is now working. Also this webcam here is interesting. I read on one blog that those blocks in the river are lumps of ice; they're normally white but now they're dark grey/black because of the ash.

I've had a trawl through the weather models. They are pretty much all over the place. Some show a low over Iceland Thursday that could help shift the ash away from us, others don't develop anything until Friday. Friday's jet stream forecast looks pretty helpful I think, jet stream moves south away from Iceland which would be good.

So a different situation from last year (where a high pressure sat over us holding the ash in) the weather is much more mobile, so even if the volcano keeps misbehaving, it won't necc keep sending it our way.

updated concentration cast

ash is in a nice narrow band so up until at least midnight tonight it doesnt look like we will see cancellations from Heathrow/Gatwick I shouldnt think.

Thats a grim image on that webcam - very grey!!

Still keeping fingers crossed for Thursday

dd has set up her volcanic ash detection system (piece of white paper weighted down by stones) to detect any ash fall.

You'd need some bloody big stones to stop a piece of paper from blowing away up here...

baa page which has quick links to airports if you are concerned about flights today.

(crossing fingers still for geordie. - there is still hope)

gatwick as of course they arent owned by baa.

geordie!!!!

have checked other flights from places such as Manchester and Lverpool as we cooed drive down, but I guess there is a good chance they could be affected by then too. I actually wish we could just jump on a plane now. Although it's all complicated by the fact that mum is due to be flying out from Newcastle the day after us.

Fingers crossed for everyone on here.

I have to go out now - I'll be back later all and see what the changes are.

at OYBBK's DDs Volcanic Ash Detection System (VADS for short!) It would actually be quite interesting whether anyone in Scotland/North of England, gets anything in the way of ash on cars etc.

Keeping fingers crossed for everyone due to fly (apart from Maureen's person, who she doesn't want flying anywhere!) Have got parents due to fly back from Cyprus tomorrow evening and also my next door neighbour, who's been visiting relatives in Ireland, due to fly back Thursday.

What are your thoughts on flights into Scotland on Thursday and Friday? Am wondering whether the meeting I'm working my arse socks off to prepare for might get cancelled and I could go and have a nice coffee and a bun instead...

My dd is meant to be flying back from Italy Friday night to stansted. Eeek everything crossed!

My flight just got cancelled. I can apparently rebook online, but am not sure that makes sense as I don't know how long this will be for. I really want to go but a refund might make more sense?

Think it's difficult to say. OYBBK said earlier (and I bow to her superior knowledge!) that weather patterns are a bit all over the place with some weather models showing that the ash blows away from us but others say it moves towards us.

I guess it's a case of taking it one day at a time and keeping a close eye on airline's websites.

Sorry to hear that WannaBe, where was it from/to? I wouldn't have a clue what to do either at this stage with it not being clear if/when it will affect other UK airports.

Really worrying about my dd's flight back because there just isn't any money to get her back another way. She's on a school trip so hoping the teachers will be able to help if it comes to it and I owe them or something. Gah.

Well I want to go from Glasgow to Germany but would have needed to change planes in Manchester and it's the plane from Glasgow to Manchester that got cancelled. So I am not even sure they would reimburse me for the second part of the journey!?

I will keep trying to call them and get it rebooked for in a few days. If it's then still not working I will try and get a refund.
Just a bit gutted as I only get to see my family once or twice a year for a few days and this is the only time I can get off this summer. I obviously prefer this though than taking any risks