MVO reported that during 1-12 June the lava dome at Soufrière Hills changed very little based on visual observations from a helicopter and seismic activity was very low. Low-level rockfall and pyroclastic flow activity continued during 1-12 June. On 8 June, a small pyroclastic flow was observed in the upper parts of Farrell's Plain to the N. Fresh pyroclastic deposits were also observed to the E in the Tar River Valley and on the S side of the lava dome. On 11 June, heavy rains generated lahars in all drainages. Two pyroclastic flows occurred. The Washington VAAC reported that on 11 June, an ash plume was visible on satellite imagery drifting NW. The plume may have reached an altitude of 3.7 km (12,000 ft) a.s.l. The Alert Level remained at 4 (on a scale of 0-5).

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