[pgc hunter]

Was just outside naked eyeing the clear sky when I noticed a distinct pungent odour of smoke in the air. I know that flights in and out of Melbourne have been cancelled because of ash-related hazard from the Chilean volcano, but all recent reports place the ash cloud over southern NZ and south of Tassie. But this smell is acrid, it irritates the throat, even causing me to cough, unlike the odour from woodheaters and fireplaces - I know because here there is that familiar aroma from those most cold winter evenings and they don't irritate the airways like this odour that is present here at the moment. Anyone else getting this?

Some aircraft are apparently flying to and from Melb but at a reduced altitude. An Emirates flight earlier this evening flew all the way from Auckland at only around 15,000ft. That same aircraft just took off from Tullamarine and has apparently leveled off at 19,000ft, according to flightradar24. Something definately going on here....