You are here

Mount Redoubt in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Erupts as Predicted

Share
Mt. Redoubt vents steam

Mt. Redoubt venting last week, prior to the latest eruption. Photo by Heather Bleick, courtesy of Alaska Volcano Observatory and U. S. Geological Survey.

Alaska's Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is back in the news with the eruption overnight of Mt. Redoubt.

As reported in the Traveler back on January 30th, seismic activity in recent months at the 10,198 foot high volcano has suggested that an eventual eruption was likely.

Those predictions proved accurate late Sunday night. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, an eruption of Mt. Redoubt began at approximately 22:38 local time Sunday night. Over the next six hours, five "large explosions" were reported by scientists monitoring the volcano, and the eruption ash cloud had reached an estimated height of 50,000 feet above sea level.

The National Weather Service issued an advisory for light ashfall Monday morning in the Sisitna Valley area, which includes the small communities of Talkeetna, Willow, and Cantwell, which are in the vicinity of Denali National Park. Thus far, winds have carried the ash away from Anchorage and Seward, the two major population centers in the state.

It's really too soon to gauge the impact of the eruption on travel or other daily activities in Alaska. Initial reports were than most of the ashfall was confined to the immediate vicinity of the volcano, and deposits of ash elsewhere were expected to be light.

According to local media reports, Alaska Airlines canceled 19 flights in and out of Anchorage on Monday as a precaution because of concerns about the ash. Volcanic ash can not only reduce visibility but can damage plane engines. Mt. Redoubt is located about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage.

Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory were taking the latest activity in stride, which is referred to on their website as an "episode of unrest."

A webcam view of Mount Redoubt is available via the Observatory. Just keep in mind that Alaska time is four hours earlier than the East Coast, and the days are still a bit short in Alaska this time of the year.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.