Volcanic and seismic activity at Soufrière Hills remained at moderate levels, as they have for several weeks. Lava-dome growth continued near the center of the dome complex, where a series of spines and ridges formed. The dome's summit reached a height of 1,098 m, the highest measured thus far. Activity was dominated by rockfalls and pyroclastic flows originating from the NE/central region of the dome that mainly traveled to the Tar River Valley. Also, several small pyroclastic flows occurred in White's and Tuitt's Ghauts, and one was observed in the upper part of Tyre's Ghaut on 20 March. Ash venting continued from the active part of the lava dome. The Washington VAAC reported that low-level ash plumes were visible on satellite imagery.

Geological Summary. The complex, dominantly andesitic Soufrière Hills volcano occupies the southern half of the island of Montserrat. The summit area consists primarily of a series of lava domes emplaced along an ESE-trending zone. The volcano is flanked by Pleistocene complexes to the north and south. English's Crater, a 1-km-wide crater breached widely to the east by edifice collapse, was formed about 2000 years ago as a result of the youngest of several collapse events producing submarine debris-avalanche deposits. Block-and-ash flow and surge deposits associated with dome growth predominate in flank deposits, including those from an eruption that likely preceded the 1632 CE settlement of the island, allowing cultivation on recently devegetated land to near the summit. Non-eruptive seismic swarms occurred at 30-year intervals in the 20th century, but no historical eruptions were recorded until 1995. Long-term small-to-moderate ash eruptions beginning in that year were later accompanied by lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows that forced evacuation of the southern half of the island and ultimately destroyed the capital city of Plymouth, causing major social and economic disruption.

Sources: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)