Texan Alert: Rare Advisory Issued Following Popocatépetl Volcano Eruption in Mexico

On Wednesday morning, southern Texas received a volcanic ash advisory as winds carried ash from Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano into the region.

As the most active volcano in Mexico, Popocatépetl has been exhibiting regular eruptions since 2005, with recent ash emissions starting last week.

The ash has affected local communities, and a wind shift on Wednesday directed the ash plume towards southern Texas, as noted in a map from the Office for Satellite and Product Operations. The situation has now changed, with the ash being carried further east into the Caribbean.

Despite the absence of a formal alert from the local National Weather Service (NWS), the advisory caught the attention of Tyler Castillo, lead forecaster at NWS Corpus Christi.

Castillo shared his surprise via post on X (formerly Twitter), showing the plume forecast.

He reported no noticeable atmospheric changes during the advisory period, and while the ash didn’t cause significant disturbances in Texas, it did lead to temporary flight suspensions at Puebla International Airport due to heavy ash buildup last Friday.

The American Lung Association (ALA) has cautioned that volcanic ash can aggravate respiratory conditions and provoke asthma attacks.

The ALA recommends that residents in affected areas stay indoors with windows and doors closed until the ash settles and suggests setting air conditioning units to recirculate to avoid outside air.

So far, Texas appears to have escaped significant fallout from the ash. Notably, high-altitude volcanic ash was also reported over Sarasota, Florida, last week.

As noted by NWS Jacksonville, “Volcanic Ash high over Florida? Yep! NOAA’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers are tracking the ash, and pilots reported visibility over Sarasota, FL. We might see a colorful sunset because of the elevated ash.”