UPDATE 11:00 am AKDT  – Photo of the Sat. Redoubt ash cloud – Courtesy of AVO/UAF-GI

INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGE:  JOHN BAILEY

SAT. 9:00 am AKDT 4.4.09- AVO barely had time to reduce the aviation code down to Orange Friday afternoon, when at 6 am Saturday morning, Mt. Redoubt erupted again, sending an ash cloud to 50,000 feet.  Mother Nature once again reminds Alaskans who is in charge!!  This is the lastest update from the National Wather Service:

UPDATE AS OF 9:46 am AKDT – Ash fall is currently being reported in Homer, Seldovia and Anchor Point.

“URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
628 AM AKDT SAT APR 4 2009

AKZ121-041800-
/X.NEW.PAFC.AF.Y.0011.090404T1428Z-090404T1800Z/
WESTERN KENAI PENINSULA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…KENAI…SOLDOTNA…HOMER…
COOPER LANDING
628 AM AKDT SAT APR 4 2009

…ASHFALL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM AKDT THIS MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED AN ASHFALL
ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM AKDT THIS MORNING.

REDOUBT VOLCANO ERUPTED AROUND 600 AM THIS MORNING AND THE ASH
CLOUD IS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST. MINOR ASHFALL CAN BE EXPECTED
FROM NINILCHIK SOUTHWARD THROUGH MID MORNING

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
613 AM AKDT SAT APR 4 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR…
  THE DRIFT RIVER

* UNTIL 1215 PM AKDT

* DUE TO THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT REDOUBT VOLCANO.

THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT REDOUBT CAN CAUSE MELTING SNOW AND ICE ON THE
MOUNTAIN AND RESULT IN HIGH WATER AND FLASH FLOODING ALONG THE DRIFT
RIVER DRAINING FROM THE MOUNTAIN.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY AUTOMOBILE.”

According to the Alaska Volcanic Observatory, lighting was observed in the cloud over the mountain and their seismometors show that there is a lahar in the Drift River valley.  I have not seen a report yet regarding the off pumping of oil from the Drift River oil terminal to the tanker that was supposed to arrive today but this likely will cause a delay in those plans.   There is concern still, since there is a flash flood warning for the Drift River valley which if occurs poses danger to the oil tanks at the tank farm there.  AVO webcams at the mountain currently show at 8:15 am the weather to be clear, with a steaming mountain.

The ashfall advisory continues until 10 am and is expected to affect the cities of Ninilchik, Homer, Cooper Landing, Kenai and Soldotna.

Currently the Anchorage airport is operating somewhat normally, though I expect that to change as the ash cloud is monitored.  The direction of the cloud takes it over the major flight route to and from Alaska.   Kenai, Kodak, and Homer flights have been delayed or cancelled.  Check with your airline before departing for the airport, if you are flying to, from, or in Alaska today.

Once again…we are reminded of the power of the forces of nature, that are beyond our control!  Further updates will will posted as they come in today. 

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PHOTO FROM AVO WEBCAM AT MT REDOUBT

FRI. 11:10 am AKDT 4.3.09 – Overnight Alaska’s Mt. Redoubt had an uneasy rest with many small, frequent earthquakes dominating the seismograph.  Clouds currently obscure  the webcam views of the mountain making it impossible to see any emissions.  During this dome-building stage it is impossible at this time to predict future eruptions though Alaskans are well aware that an eruption can happen without warning!

Weather in Alaska’s largest city is mostly cloudy with some snow showers predicted.  There are no NWS advisories at this time and flights to and from the Anchorage Airport appear to be operating normally.  It is a bit cool for this time of year however, with the current temperature in Anchorage being about 25 degrees.

As for Redoubt…we will see what the day brings.  Updates on any changes at the mountain will be posted as necessary.   Have a good day/evening all!    :-)

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THURS 11:50 pm AKDT 4.2.09- Redoubt has the jitters – at least that’s what the webicorder digital seismograph looks like to a lay person tonight!  For the last several hours there have been repeating earthquakes at the rate of 3 – 4 per minute, and according to AVO, 2 – 8 larger discrete earthquakes per hour.  Since it is now dark there is no visual confirmation of any steam emissions though AVO says they are “likely to occur”.

Currently flights are back to normal in and out of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.  NOAA forecast wind trajectories show 2 of the 8 models bringing winds at the 30,000 ft. level over the Anchorage area, should Redoubt erupt tonight.  That does not necessarily mean ashfall, though it could happen if there is an eruption.

Another night of waiting and sleeping and wondering if we will wake up to ashfall or not!  Life in the far north with volcanos…is NOT dull!  Night folks. 

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PHOTO BY NEIL  SUTTON (from the AVO site) MAR. 31, 2009 – MT. REDOUBT

THURS. 5:27 pm AKDT 4.2.09 – The Seabulk Arctic tanker is scheduled to dock Saturday and begin offloading most of the oil stored in the Drift River oil terminal, according to an afternoon report in the Anchorage Daily News.   The tanks are critically near capacity and a joint command has been set up to resolve the issue, as well as to prevent an environmental disaster, were an eruption of Redoubt to cause massive flash flooding in the Drift River valley, endangering the oil tanks at the terminal. 

Roughly half the amount of oil that was spilled during the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 - would flood into the mouth of the Drift River and Cook Inlet if that were to happen.  About 840,000 gallons of oil will be left in the tanks, due to pumps being too high in the tanks to pump all of the oil out.  Additionally there is concern that in the event of a flood and lahar flow caused by Mt. Redoubt erupting - without the weight of some oil in the tanks they might float off their foundations, causing even more environmental damage due to oil remaining that can’t be pumped out.  Members of the joint task force will be on hand – volcano permitting – to oversee the pumping of the oil from Chevron’s Drift River oil terminal into the tanker.

The hope is that Redoubt will stay calm because crews will need to be at both the oil terminal and the platform offshore, and officials said safety of the crews is a priority.  One crew already had to be evacuated after arriving for some cleanup – when the mountain erupted again.

This leaves me with one question:  What possessed Chevron to build an oil terminal with massive oil tanks…at the mouth of a flood plain…in the immediate shadow of a volcano, known to have erupted in the past?  Granted, there is flat land there and not much to be had elsewhere…but I just have to shake my head.  I have this burning desire to ask the original planners and builders that question!  Did they think that Redoubt would never erupt again??

As of this posting, Redoubt continues to have an elevated level of small earthquakes, 3 – 4 per minute and is still shaking and baking! I wonder what tonight will hold?

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PHOTOS COURTESY AVO – THE DRIFT RIVER TERMINAL AND DEBRIS FROM AN EARLIER ERUPTON

Photos by Game McGimsey, AVO 3.31.09

 

http://www.adn.com/volcano/story/746236.html

THURS. 12:20 pm AKDT 4.2.09- Unpredictable Mt. Redoubt spent a relatively quiet night, but according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, seismicity has increased in the last hour.  The teapot-like mountain is currently steaming and webicorders are showing some small discrete earthquakes.

Scientists believe that the mountain is in a dome forming stage and say that an eventual collapse of that dome could occur, resulting in another explosive event at any time.  Another eggshell day for the residents of Alaska in the shadow the cranky mountain! 

At this time there are no weather advisories from the NWS.  Most of today’s forecasted wind trajectories from NOAA (there are eight) appear to take any potential ash fall away from the Alaska’s largest city, should the mountain blow it’s top today.

The Anchorage Airport is reporting normal flight activity today so far, with the exception of some cargo flights not directly bringing goods to Anchorage – that are being re-routed through other cities. 

It’s been a relief to have a day of reprieve from possible ash clouds, but those of us here know that could end at any moment since the mountain is still rumbling!  Check out this awesome photo/thermal image below, of the dome building at Mt. Redoubt from AVO!

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PHOTO & TEXT COURTESY OF: Rick Wessels, AVO/USGS

Thermal infrared image

“Thermal infrared image showing the likely base of a new lava dome in the crater of Redoubt Volcano. While the dome is completely obscured by ash and steam in the visible photographs, the heat of the new lava can often be detected by the thermal infrared camera. The image also shows a trail of hot block and ash confined to the canyon below the summit.”

Picture Date: March 31, 2009 13:44:07 AKDT

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

WED. 8:05 pm AKDT 4.1.09- Redoubt continues to huff and puff a mostly continuous emission of low altitude steam clouds with small amounts of ash.  Volcanic tremor is weak with a few , small, discrete earthquakes.  Wind direction has shifted and is now blowing to the east in the direction of Prince William Sound.  As of this posting, I have seen no reports of ash fall.  Airlines are operating  at near normal levels.  Currently there are a couple of delays to Homer and Kenai and U.S Airways has diverted their Phoenix flight, scheduled to land in Anchorage at 12:50 am Thurs.

According to AVO Redoubt is still very active and not expected to become dormant anytime soon.  Redoubt still… could erupt at any time!  Who knew…when I came to Alaska years ago…that I would be living in the shadow of an active volcano!

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PHOTO: The winds changed and blew the Redoubt haze away..for now.  Taken today. 

WED. 12:10 pm AKDT 4.1.09 – Restless Mt. Redoubt had an uneasy night’s sleep with no new eruptions.  Currently there are still low level gas emissions containing some ash, volcanic tremor and a few discrete earthquakes.  Weather today for Southcentral Alaska is partly to  mostly cloudy.  Here in the state’s largest city there is an occasional snow shower and a sun-break here and there.  Wind trajectory forecast by the NWS appears to take any ash cloud generated by a future eruption today – away from the Alaska’s most populated city.

Flights at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport appear to be mostly back to normal today…so far.  Hopefully some of the backed-up passengers will be able to get into and out of Anchorage today – before Redoubt rears it’s ugly (and awesome) head again!

Still a bit hazy here but I see a patch of blue sky…how welcome that is!  Spring has been cooler than normal so far and everyone here is ready for the “real” breakup and warmer weather…to keep cabin fever at bay!  Come on Spring!

The photo below is from the AVO site, by Bret Higman.  What an awesome shot of the lightning during the eruption of Mt. Redoubt on Mar. 28th!  It makes one wonder what the planets early inhabitants must have thought.  Surely they thought the fire God’s were painting the sky and that the world was coming to an end!

Here’s hoping for a quiet day, with Mother Nature taking another nap!

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PHOTO BY BRET HIGMAN – AVO

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

TUES. 11:00 pm AKDT 3.31.09  – As today comes to a close, Redoubt has not erupted again since 4:15 pm this afternoon.  In scouring varying sources of news in the last few minutes, there are no immediate reports of ash fall from this afternoon’s smaller eruption.  Photos from AVO’s overflight this afternoon show steam and ash plumes, with ash covering the flanks of the volcano. 

Volcanic tremor seems to have increased somewhat in the last two hours and there have been 2 small earthquakes, as confirmed by the Alaska Earthquake Information Center.  Usually there are quite a few very small discrete earthquakes in the vicinity of the mountain on a daily basis.

Tonight, Alaska Airlines has cancelled most all of their flights due to safety concerns.  Volcanic ash has a tendency to sandblast aircraft engines and coat them with melted volcanic glass,  rendering them inoperable  as evidenced by the KLM  747 which flamed out all 4 engines after accidentally flying into the 1989 ash cloud emitted by Redoubt. 

The airliner fell 2 miles with 231 terrified passenges on board.  Finally after more than 4 minutes and falling to within about 2,000 feet of the mountain tops, the crew was able to restart all 4 engines and land safely in Anchorage.  Anyone who says that volcano monitoring is unnecessary, just did not manage to get out of bed with their head screwed on quite right!

Not only airlines are being affected – grocery stores are not able to receive shipments of speciality foods flown into Anchorage.  This is definitely not the growing season here either so it’s not like we can go grow our own!  It makes me wonder how long before some food prices go up!  As for mail…..good luck on getting anything out of here in a hurry.  In fact…good luck on just getting out of here!

Fortunately, Alaskans are a pretty tough breed of cat and as  a whole…we shake our heads …and go on about our day!

Night all. Morning comes too soon!

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http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

Photos courtesy of AVO overflight today 3.31.09

 

TUES. 5:40 pm AKDT 3.31.09 – A new eruption has occured at Mt Redoubt, sending a plume to 25,000 feet.  Here is the current alert from Weather Underground:

Statement as of 9:14 PM EDT on March 31, 2009

5:15 PM akdt Tue Mar 31 2009

 

Latest information on Redoubt Volcano update 5:15 PM Tuesday afternoon…

“Redoubt Volcano erupted around 4:15 PM akdt this afternoon with a
plume estimated at 25000 ft. Winds are blowing the plume northeast
over northern Cook Inlet and the Anchorage bowl.

At this point… there are no ashfall advisories in effect. A dusting
of ash is possible over portions of northern Kenai Peninsula… the
Anchorage bowl… and Matanuska Valley.

The National Weather Service and affiliated agencies continue to
monitor the situation and will update information when available.”

 

I will keep this updated as news comes in.

 

FLIGHT STATUS UPDATE – 6:03 pm AKDT:

 

According to the Ted Stevens International Airport (Anchorage) Alaska Airlines has cancelled incoming flights from Portland, Las Vegas and Seattle.  In Alaska, they have cancelled flights from Fairbanks, Juneau, Kotzebue and Bethel.  Check with the airlines before departing for the Anchorage Airport.

 

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http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Anchorage,%20Ak&wuSelect=WEATHER

TUES. 1:14pm AKDT 3.31.09- Overnight Alaska’s Mt. Redoubt remained relatively calm, with seismic tremor appearing to increase some, after around 5 am.  Despite the calm, Redoubt remains quirky and the warning level still elevated to code “RED”.  Officials at AVO speculate that the mountain is in a dome-building phase and could still blow at any time.  As of 10 am AKDT this morning AVO reports that the weather is clear and a “steam-rich”,  low elevation plume possibly containing low levels of ash,  can be seen over the mountain via webcam. 

Alaska’s largest city awoke to hazy mountains today, in part due to the ash kicked up into the air by sloppy, gritty streets drying out.  While air quality over all remains good, the mountains which usually stand out in stark contrast were less obvious this morning.  

According to the recent AVO update at 12:58 pm, “Satellite images from this morning show a broad layer of volcanic haze extending east of the volcano over the Kenai Peninsula, the Anchorage Bowl, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.”  The site also reports that satellite images appear to show an event at the vent of the mountain which might be interpreted as “the extrusion of a lava dome in the summit crater”.

Seems like getting out for a walk best happen today – as the skies are relatively clear and Redoubt’s “plan of action” remains very unclear and the mountain unstable! 

UPDATE FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1210 PM AKDT TUE MAR 31 2009
“…TRACE AMOUNTS OF ASHFALL POSSIBLE FOR AREAS UP TO 30 MILES NORTH
OF REDOUBT VOLCANO…

REDOUBT VOLCANO IS EMITTING A CONTINUOUS LOW LEVEL STEAM PLUME WITH
OCCASIONAL HIGHER BURSTS. THERE IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF ASH IN THE PLUME
WHICH MAY CAUSE A TRACE AMOUNT OF ASHFALL IN AREAS UP TO 30 MILES
NORTH OF REDOUBT VOLCANO THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. THIS INCLUDES THE BIG LAKES AREA.”

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http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/volcano.php

Photo is one I took around 8 am AKDT this morning.