Alaska's Mt. Redoubt volcano erupts with five major explosions; ash cloud ascends 50,000 feet

*UPDATE: Includes new comment from Skwentna resident regarding ash fall.

**UPDATE: Travelers asked to check flight status as some flights have been canceled.

Alaska's Mt. Redoubt Volcano, which had been in a tempestuous mood for two months, erupted Sunday night at 10:38 p.m., sending an ash cloud 50,000 feet above sea level and prompting several flight cancelations.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory recorded four more large explosions during the night. Tina Neal, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said that "so far the major population centers in south-central Alaska have been spared any kind of dusting of ash."

The enormous plume was drifting to the north over an expansive wilderness parcel and so far only the small town of Skwentna, 100 miles north of Redoubt, had reported experiencing ash fall, mixed with snow.

In an interview, Eric Johnson, who runs Northwoods Lodge in Skwentna, said he did not hear the eruptions. "I did not know it erupted till daylight when I could see the funny-looking color on the snow," he said. Johnson, whose lodge specializes in snowmobiling in the winter and fishing in late spring and summer, said he's canceling reservations for the next couple of weeks because the coarse ash can damage snowmobiles.

Alaska Airlines was forced to cancel at least 19 flights and is asking travelers to check their flight status on its website.

Neal said the duration of eruptions varied from 10 to 20 minutes. Redoubt is located 110 miles southwest of Anchorage, due west of the Kenai Peninsula across the Cook Inlet.

Scientists will perform a fly-over today and attempt to take photographs.

The volcano last erupted in 1989-90, periodically over a period of six months, and scientists anticipate another lengthy episode.

Updates and fresh photos will be posted here as more information becomes available. Good luck to those living nearby. You might wish to study the AVO's ashfall preparedness link.

--Pete Thomas and Kelly Burgess

Photo: Mt. Redoubt's north flank, as photographed from the south last week, before the full eruption. Credit: Heather Bleick for Alaska Volcano Observatory / U.S. Geological Survey. Photo below shows ascending ash cloud during an eruption in April, 1990. Credit: J. Warren/AVO/USGS.

Comments

[catcrazy]

Scott, (i don't know you) you spelled Krakatoa wrong

[erik lopez]

Hey all this information was very helpful for me because i am doing a project about volcanoes.

[Kel]

I think you all need to just get a life.

[Rich]

The last time there was a major eruption, Minitubo, and St Helens, It put more chloroflurocarbons, and freon into the atmosphere than all the civilizations of the world did for the past 100 yrs. If what the tree huggers said was true about co2
we would not have an atmosphere. But infact the cloud circled the globe, and the world air temp went down 2 degrees, reversing global warming by thousands of years. True sientists realize that there is a certain volcanic constant that is required to maintain a ballanced atmosphere, and there at laest 153 chemical processes going on in the atmosphere at all times. the tree huggers pick a few and say the ozone layer is going to kill us all. It is great to know that there is a greater force than All Gore in control of our world.
I wish the best for those affected by this event, and will pray for your safety. the intelligent designer is in control of this, and so I pray for mercy for those affected. Richard Thompson

[blessed]

This is just more proof that carbon dating is wrong if you believe that the earth is billions of years old. Evolutionists- you believe in nothing, nothing created nothing-and nothing will save you. Get right with God.

[Scott]

Issue 1. This is a human life issue, to wish or hope for ill to befall any human should not be suprised when ill falls upon them. Karma Kills Too.
Issue 2. This is a American Life issue. How quickly we forget about great massacres like 9-11, The Johnstown Flood, Katrina, Mt. McKinley, Mt. St. Helens, someone in this country, (politics aside) lost a mom, dad, brother, sister.
Issue 3. This is a global issue, a volcano eruption like Krackatoa or Vesuvius, could lead to weather changes, earthquakes, and other magma creations.
Issue 4. I'm proud my tax dollars go to warn all citizens of the world. I'm glad it goes to that..instead of Barney Frank and his friends at Fannie & Freddie!

[tim]

Think about it, a mega super eruption could start us into the next ice age and change life as we know it effecting all of planet Earth.

[stavros333]

it will blow and the birds will flee and head towards the east across the pacific it will be on a biblical proportion

[meanass]

hey meanbastard the next explosion get really close to it so we can see what happeds to because I bet it will be every funny watching it

[ALLWAYS]

school power went out but is now back on.. i wish we couldve went home tho. dont want to get stuck in town.. and not going to drive my car....

[Greg]

See, the monitoring money was a waste. It blew anyway.

But I'm sure Bobby and Sarah will kindly do an exorcism of the offending volcano and we can pocket the $140m to cover AIG bonuses.

[Alyssa]

MICHELLE , No need to get upset. There are sick people in this world and unfortunily they have made thier way to this article. I have 2 sisters and thier family up there. All these ignorant comments are irrelevant. Bless you and your family, sweetiy.

[Raven]

Jindal certainly didn't choose his message wisely that night,
But he meant that volcano monitoring had nothing to do with economic
stimulus. And shouldn't have been put into the already pork laden package.

He was correct.

[Sam]

We should remind Gov. Bobby Jindal of La that volcanos erupt from time to time and peoples' lives are saved by early warnings. Money spent for monitoring vocanos is better than AIG or Meryl Lynch taking my 401k down with them.

[Anne]

My sister just had a baby and has been told she has to stay in the hospital at the Airforce Base. I am glad she is there instead of at home where the baby might have to breathe that ash.

[Jt]

lets just hope everyone is safe. Politics aside

[Qamile Stema]

YAHWEH is angry.

[sea2992]

what!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MICHELLE]

LOOK MY HUSBAND WORKS IN THE COOK INLET RIGHT BY THE VOLCANO AND HE IS THERE AS WE SPEAK...SO TO ALL U HATEFULL PEOPLE WHY DONT U GO SIT IN THE OPENING AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER EXPLOSION! WE HAVE A 9 MONTH OLD AND IM PREGNANT WITH OUR SECOND!! TRY TO THINK OF MORE THAN JUST YOURSELVES I KNOW ITS HARD AND IT MAY HURT YOUR LITTLE BRAIN BUT YOU CAN DO IT!! GOD WHAT HAS THIS WORLD COME TO!! SOME PEOPLE JUST DONT CARE!

[JJ]

I bet this is George Bush's fault, too!!!

[esme]

im doing a report on this for my school

[canada girl]

we watch closely since we live on Queen Charlotte Islands. We have an extinct volcano here. Also, more volcanos in southern alaska so of interest to keep on this story since we may be suceptible to tsunami or ash drops.

[Gene]

I am sure they will blame this on President Obama and Secretary Geithner too! Sarah, get off your high horse...we are tired of hearing from you. Wasilla is such a dump and you were darn lucky to make it to the Governor's office...just for the fact that there wasn't anybody competent and you were the lesser of the evils.

[Redrose]

A wonder of this Earth's great change.

[John Devries]

Here in the Yukon we are interested in how this eruption will effect weather patterns as we just came through a abnormally cold winter and spring is beginning to look likewise.