Italian volcano Etna has become active

[Xpert]

Mount Etna, located on the Italian island of Sicily, has became active according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Italy on Monday.
According to seismologists, the volcano has begun erupting large rocks and a large amount of ash. However eruptions of lava from the crater of Mount Etna have not yet been recorded.
Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and the highest mountain in Italy. By area, Etna surpasses its nearest "competitor", Mount Vesuvius by more than 2,5 times.
The name Etna has an Arabic origin and is translated as "Mountain of Fire".

VA ADVISORY

DTG: 20110113/0100Z

VAAC: TOULOUSE

VOLCANO: ETNA 0101-06

PSN: N3744 E01500

AREA: ITALY

SUMMIT ELEV: 3350M

ADVISORY NR: 2011/04

INFO SOURCE: METEOSAT IMAGERY

AVIATION COLOUR CODE: UNKNOWN

ERUPTION DETAILS: ERUPTION SEEMS DECREASE AT 2345Z WE CAN SEE A

PLUME OF VOLCANIC ASH UP TO 100NM SOUTH AND REACH FL300

OBS VA DTG: 12/2145

OBS VA CLD: FL100/130 N3750 E01500 - N3630 E01425 - N3625 E01455 -

N3750 E01500 FL130/300 N3745 E01455 - N3515 E01505 - N3540 E01345 -

N3745 E01455

FCST VA CLD + 6H: 13/0500Z FL100/130 N3755 E01500 - N3455 E01445 -

N3515 E01325 - N3755 E01500 FL130/200 N3750 E01500 - N3410 E01445 -

N3355 E01310 - N3355 E01315 - N3750 E01500 FL200/300 N3755 E01500 -

N2955 E01355 - N3105 E01130 - N3755 E01500

FCST VA CLD + 12H: 13/1100Z FL100/130 N3710 E01440 - N2920 E01405 -

N2955 E01155 - N3710 E01440 FL130/200 N3620 E01430 - N2710 E01435 -

N2610 E01225 - N3620 E01430 FL200/300 N3300 E01410 - N2555 E01640 -

N2540 E01230 - N3300 E01410

FCST VA CLD + 18H: 13/1700Z FL100/130 N3540 E01415 - N2940 E01725 -

N2845 E02145 - N2735 E01520 - N3540 E01415

RMK: PLEASE CHECK SIGMET FOR CURRENT WARNINGS.

NXT ADVISORY: NO LATER THAN 0700Z

[sodapop]

Sorry mate, but Etna's not close to being the highest mountain in Italy.

First is the Cervino (Matterhorn) at 4478m, followed by a number of others in the Alps.

Etna's activity is hardly news. Often spotted on aviation weather charts.

Saluti dall'Italia,
Soda

[Agaricus bisporus]

Etna has been active since way before the human race appeared on the scene so this is hardly news.

Or did you mean it's just erupted, which is an entirely different thing?

[sodapop]

Addition to my earlier post;

Fair enough that you wanted to point out the ash cloud spewing from Etna, especially after last year's volcanic icelandic eruption and subsequent disastrous handling by Europe Air Traffic Control (or whomever was responsible for creating a no-fly zone bigger than Iraq).

Just keep in mind, as I mentioned previously, that Etna is frequently throwing ash up in the sky and, thankfully, the cloud is fairly concentrated and visible. Does offer a need to avoid, especially at night.

So, point taken.

Soda

[larssnowpharter]

First is the Cervino (Matterhorn) at 4478m, followed by a number of others in the Alps.

One rather thought Monte Bianco was a tad higher.

[sodapop]

I stand corrected. Monte Bianco 4807m. Google has failed me again. Or could it have been operator input. At any rate, Etna is not the highest.

Grazie mille vecio.

Soda

[Slow Progress]

Can anyone post the link to the official VAAC charts as the cfmu nop portal keeps crashing here.

Thanks