Volcanic eruption in Japan

                     Mount Aso volcanic eruption                     (C)AP

Mount Aso, a volcano located on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, erupted on Monday morning, sending huge plumes of black and then white smoke and ash 6,560 feet(2, 000 meters) into the air. The eruption prompted authorities to raise the alert level for the area, banning people from approaching within 1.25 miles of the volcano's mouth, FoxNews reports.
There are no homes within that area and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Shortly after the eruption, All Nippon Airways announced that they had canceled six flights to avoid the plume of ash. Japan Airlines also canceled flights.
"High pressure over the Sea of Japan will keep a northeast flow across the area through Thursday. Areas that could see falling ash would be to the southwest of the volcano," AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said.

Smoke and ashes rising from the mountain        (C)AP

The volcano alert level on Mount Aso is currently a scale of 3 out of 5, meaning those in the area are warned not to approach the volcano due to the potential for further eruptions, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Areas on the leeward side of the volcano may experience ash falling to the ground within a few kilometers of the volcano.
"Low pressure will bring rain across the area later Tuesday into Wednesday and the will flow become lighter and more variable, so the ash may not travel too far," Douty said. "During the second half of the week, the wind will come from the northwest, pushing any ash towards the Pacific."