Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Weather News /

    Flights grounded: Ash descends as Mt. Etna erupts

10:00
22 May 2023

Flights grounded
Ash descends as Mt. Etna erupts

Ash-covered streets after volcanic eruption
Ash-covered streets in Nicolosi, Sicily island seen on Sunday after Etna's latest eruption. - © picture alliance

Italy’s infamous Mt. Etna erupted on Sunday, coating nearby streets with ash and halting air traffic in the vicinity.

Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, erupted Sunday as rain continued to fall in flood-hit Italy. While no injuries are reported, copious amounts of ash have fallen in Catania.

Local news reports loud explosive sounds coming from the volcano, though the weather largely obscured views of any activity.

Catania Airport grounded all flights due to ash on the runway. Normal operation resumed from 09:00 am local time this morning with delays.

Standing at over 3,300 metres tall, Etna regularly erupts throughout the year, although its last major eruption occurred over a century ago in 1922.

It is constantly monitored, and an eruption was expected this weekend after a rise in tremors beneath the volcano was recorded over the past week.

The eruption comes as northern Italy continues to battle devastating floods, leaving more than 36,000 people to flee their homes.

Watch: On the scene in flooded Italyread more

At least 14 casualties are known, with the Emilia Romagna region worst-hit after seeing half of their average annual rainfall arrive in just 36 hours.

More rainfall is expected from midweek, with the mayor of Bologna saying that it will take years for the damages to be fully repaired.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Trapped beneath a blanket of hot air. Heat dome. . . Monday 22 June 2026
Split graphic showing a heat dome illustration over Europe on the left with a high-pressure system trapping hot air, and an extreme temperature map on the right displaying widespread 40–41°C heat across France and Spain with a large thermometer icon.
Monday 22 June 2026

Heat dome

Trapped beneath a blanket of hot air
50 years since historic 1976 heatwave. Three-month hot spell. . . Tuesday 23 June 2026
Black-and-white photograph from the 1976 UK heatwave showing a crowded outdoor swimming area packed with people bathing, wading, and sitting along the water's edge during extreme summer heat.
Tuesday 23 June 2026

Three-month hot spell

50 years since historic 1976 heatwave
Record-breaking heatwave in Europe. New records. . . Thursday 25 June 2026
A map showing extremely high temperatures across Western Europe and a warning symbol. On the right, people cool off at a fountain in front of the Eiffel Tower during the heatwave in Paris.
Thursday 25 June 2026

New records

Record-breaking heatwave in Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday 23 April 2026
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday 24 January 2026
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList