SIGN UP FOR OUR 
By Wendy Anders
Costa Rica’s Turrialba Volcano erupted at 5:50 a.m. today, Wednesday, January 4, sending a large plume of ash and gas westward as strong gusts of wind race out of the east across the country.
Dozens of flights from mid-morning onward have been cancelled or delayed, but only on certain airlines, and the capital’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is open and functioning normally, said airport officials.
The volcano has been active for the past few days, but this was a the largest of recent eruptions, with ashfall being reported continuously throughout the day by Facebook users from various locales west of the volcano including Coronado, Heredia, Goicoechea, Moravia, Tibás, San José, Escazú, and other sites, said the Volcanology and Seismology Research Institute at the National University (Ovsicori-UNA).
Many readers who are desperately battling to keep their homes free of the dusty grit, and others with allergies and asthma that are exacerbated by the ash have written to inquire from National University scientists whether they know when the eruptions will cease, but nobody has such answers when it comes to volcanoes.
Both incoming and outbound flights on American Airlines, United, Jet Blue, Spirit and Alaska Air were the only ones affected today in this latest dusting of ash, according to the Aeris Holdings website which has a real time list of arrivals and departures for the SJO airport.
Airlines have different guidelines regarding flying in different weather conditions, and so far these are the only ones with reported schedule changes. To be safe, check your flights in and out of SJO while the Turrialba volcano is in on-mode. Ash seems to be here to stay for the meantime in the San José metropolitan area.
