Mount Redoubt appears to have returned to normal.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory downgraded Redoubt's alert code and says the chance of the volcano returning to its prior eruptive behavior is unlikely.

It is possible the volcano 106 miles southwest of Anchorage is entering a prolonged period of quiet.

Redoubt began erupting March 22. In early April, a lava dome formed in the volcano's summit crater and began growing, leading to concerns that it could collapse quickly and result in another large explosion.

Scientists kept a close watch on Mount Redoubt as the dome continued to grow.

Experts now say it will pose a local hazard for some time but the outward signs of lava dome instability have declined. Depending on wind and cloud conditions, sulfur smells could reach populated areas and steam plumes will be visible on occasion.

According to volcano experts, the lava dome in the summit crater has reached a volume of about 91 million cubic yards.

Mount Redoubt had one of its last significant explosions April 4, when it sent an ash plume more than 8 miles into the air and dropped ash on several Kenai Peninsula communities.

The erupting volcano forced the Cook Inlet Pipeline Co. to remove millions of gallons of oil stored at the Drift River Terminal, just 22 miles from the erupting volcano. The volcano's eruptions produced mud flows that reached concrete-reinforced dikes surrounding the terminal but the tanks holding the oil were not damaged.

Hundreds of airline flights also were canceled because of ash clouds this spring.