A cloud of smoke and ash is seen over the Grimsvoetn volcano on Iceland on May 21, 2011. ©AFP...

A plume of ash from erupting Icelandic volcano Grimsvotnin is being blown south towards Britain and could reach the airspace over mainland Europe later in the week, meteorological experts said on Monday.
Two days into its most powerful eruption in over a century, monitors said that ash particles from the Grimsvoetn volcano had been scattered across much of the North Atlantic island whose airspace has been closed since Sunday.

Although the most recent eruption isn't likely to cause anything like the disruption seen in the wake of the Eyjafjallajokull ash, which led to a huge shutdown of European airspace in April last year, several agencies have warned that some areas of Northern Europe could see closures.
According to the latest predictions from the UK's Met Office forecasters, ash could be present at low altitudes in Northern Britain and parts of Russia from around 6 AM UTC May 24.
That means that there is a possibility of flight operations in Ireland and Scotland being affected, although European air traffic body Eurocontrol says that unstable meteorological conditions make it harder to predict any further.
The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says that there "is the possibility of ash reaching Scottish airspace from Tuesday onwards, and affecting other parts of the UK and Ireland later in the week," adding that it can't rule out disruption.
In any case, following last year's eruption, airlines now have agreed procedures in place which allow them to fly through through medium-density ash clouds and meaning only significant quantities would cause flight problems.
Keflavik Airport in Iceland, which was closed over the weekend when Grimsvotn started to erupt, has now reopened, although flight disruption is continuing.
Travelers should check with their airline before departing.
Other useful sources:

UK Met Office, London Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre: www.metoffice.gov.uk

EuroControl:  www.eurocontrol.int

CAA

Airport Flight Status: www.flightstats.com

Published 23.05.2011