Air routes across Mexico, Hawaii, Central America and Indonesia faced ash hazards on Friday, November 6, 2026, with a volcanic plume climbing to flight level 200 — an estimated 20,000 feet (6,100 m) — above central Mexico, while Indonesia’s Mount Bromo erupted. Volcano Discovery reported the day’s map of active volcanoes, drawing on bulletins from the Darwin and Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAACs) and weekly reports from the Smithsonian Institution and U.S. Geological Survey.
The Washington VAAC reported Popocatépetl’s ash column at 20,000 ft (6,100 m), flight level 200, in its 08:56 UTC bulletin.
Bromo’s Eruption Shakes East Java
The day’s most significant new development came from Bromo in East Java, Indonesia, where an explosion erupted from the caldera vent at 5:11 p.m. local time on November 6, sending a gray ash column about 500 meters above the volcanic edifice and drifting west, Volcano Discovery reported. The local volcanological observatory recorded a seismic signal with a maximum amplitude of 23 mm lasting 46 seconds. The eruption marks Bromo’s first since 2019, according to the report.
Ash Plumes at Flight Levels Across Four Countries
Dukono on Halmahera reached 8,000 ft (2,400 m), flight level 080, drifting southwest at 5 knots (16:50 UTC), while Ibu, also on Halmahera, sent ash to 7,000 ft (2,100 m), flight level 070 (18:20 UTC).
In Central America, Guatemala’s Fuego reached 15,000 ft (4,600 m), flight level 150, at 17:10 UTC, and Santiaguito climbed to 13,000 ft (4,000 m), flight level 130, at 15:00 UTC, both per the Washington VAAC.
| Volcano | Plume height | Flight level | Source bulletin (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Popocatépetl (Mexico) | 20,000 ft (6,100 m) | FL200 | VAAC Washington, 08:56 |
| Kilauea (Hawaii) | 18,000 ft (5,500 m) | FL180 | VAAC Washington, 00:26 |
| Semeru (Indonesia) | 15,000 ft (4,600 m) | FL150 | VAAC Darwin, 09:10 |
| Fuego (Guatemala) | 15,000 ft (4,600 m) | FL150 | VAAC Washington, 17:10 |
| Santiaguito (Guatemala) | 13,000 ft (4,000 m) | FL130 | VAAC Washington, 15:00 |
| Dukono (Indonesia) | 8,000 ft (2,400 m) | FL080 | VAAC Darwin, 16:50 |
| Ibu (Indonesia) | 7,000 ft (2,100 m) | FL070 | VAAC Darwin, 18:20 |
| Bromo (Indonesia) | ~500 m above crater | — | Local observatory, 5:11 p.m. local |
Cloud Cover Hides Plumes in Colombia and Ecuador
Puracé in Colombia reported an ash emission, but the cloud and plume height could not be observed because of meteorological cloud cover; the warning relied on reports and model forecasts as of 20:00 UTC, according to the source bulletin. Ecuador’s Reventador showed a possible ash emission that satellite imagery could not confirm for the same reason, with forecasts indicating little change in the ash cloud’s movement over the following six hours. The Washington VAAC also issued a bulletin for Ecuador’s Sangay.
Dozens of Volcanoes Remain in Eruption Worldwide
Beyond the ash advisories, the November 6 summary listed volcanoes in eruption, including Ambrym and Aoba in Vanuatu, Bagana in Papua New Guinea, Bezymianny, Karymsky, Klyuchevskoy and Sheveluch on Kamchatka, Stromboli in Italy, Yasur in Vanuatu, and Kanlaon and Mayon in the Philippines, based on Smithsonian/USGS weekly reports. Etna in Sicily and Cotopaxi in Ecuador were listed under minor-activity warnings.
How Radar Tracks Volcanic Activity
What is NISAR, mentioned in the day’s reports?
NISAR is the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar. The day’s report included a time-lapse video using NISAR GSLC and GCOV radar products covering July through October.
Why were Puracé’s and Reventador’s plumes not measured directly?
How high the ash from Puracé and Reventador actually climbed remains unanswered — the weather clouds hid both plumes, and no later observation appears in the day’s reports.
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