Is the ash cloud coming back?

Some ominous news out of Ireland:  Ireland’s Aviation Authority says it may impose a no-fly zone over the country Tuesday because of concerns about the southward drift of volcanic ash from Iceland. The authority says northeasterly winds are causing the ash cloud, originating from southern Iceland, to drift south to Ireland. It has informed Irish-based ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

Some ominous news out of Ireland: 

Some ominous news out of Ireland: 

Ireland’s Aviation Authority says it may impose a no-fly zone over the country Tuesday because of concerns about the southward drift of volcanic ash from Iceland.

The authority says northeasterly winds are causing the ash cloud, originating from southern Iceland, to drift south to Ireland. It has informed Irish-based airlines it may be forced to restrict flights. […]

Iceland’s Meteorological Office said a change of wind direction in the past few days meant that the ash cloud was blowing south and southeast toward Europe, rather than northward over Iceland.

Ireland’s airspace was the first to close during the April ash crisis. It will be interesting to watch whether European aviation authorities will be quite so cautious this time if the ash returns to the continent.

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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