Alaska News

What was that cloud spotted rising from Redoubt volcano Monday?

A cloud seen rising from Alaska's Redoubt volcano Monday evening is likely a steam plume, not smoke, according to a volcanologist.

The plume, visible from Anchorage, prompted questions from concerned citizens to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

"There is no unusual seismic activity registered at Redoubt this evening," wrote AVO scientist-in-charge John Power. "What we are seeing is likely a steam plume under ideal viewing conditions."

Mount Redoubt is an active volcano 108 miles southwest of Anchorage, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, across Cook Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula.

The volcano's last significant seismic activity occurred in March 2009, when multiple eruptions from Redoubt darkened the sky and dropped ash on the city of Anchorage, temporarily closing Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

Laurel Andrews

Laurel Andrews was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in October 2018.

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