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Did you see the volcanic ash this morning?

We didn't either
20170328 Environment Canada Volacanic Ash Screengrab
Screen capture from Environment Canada's weather web site for Sault Ste. Marie, showing Volcanic Ash conditions.

For an unknown period of time this morning, Environment Canada listed ‘Volcanic Ash’ as the weather condition in Sault Ste. Marie.

To the knowledge of Jerry Shields, meteorologist for SooToday, there is not currently any volcanic activity in the Sault Ste. Marie area.

“The closest erupting volcano that I know of is in the Aleutian Islands,” said Shields. 

Curiously, Environment Canada’s weather report for Sault Ste. Marie noted visibility of 16 kilometres, which Shields said is not typical of a Volcanic Ash condition.

The Environment Canada weather station for the city is situated at the Sault Ste Marie Airport.

Terry Bos, president and CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie Airport, said he was not aware of any volcanoes erupting nearby.

“We have a little fog right now, but no volcanic ash,” said Bos.

According to VolcanoDiscovery.com, there are currently 21 active or potentially active volcanoes in Canada — none of which are situated in Ontario.

By 11 a.m. the ash had apparently cleared and the condition was then changed to Mostly Cloudy.

Was it a mixup? No word yet from Environment Canada.


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Kenneth Armstrong

About the Author: Kenneth Armstrong

Kenneth Armstrong is a news reporter and photojournalist who regularly covers municipal government, business and politics and photographs events, sports and features.
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