January 14, 2006
Saturday

Alaska's Augustine volcano exploded five times on Friday producing ash plumes, mudflows, and pyroclastic flows on the island. The ash clouds produced Friday were in excess of 30,000 ft, as reported by pilots and radar data provided by the National Weather Service. Ash was carried to the east-southeast and light ash falls were reported in communities of the southwestern Kenai Peninsula.

The current level of concern continues at RED which indicates a significant eruption is occurring or explosive eruption is expected at any time.

"Augustine Volcano is one of the best instrumented volcanoes in Alaska," said USGS Volcano Hazards Program Coordinator Dr. James Quick. "As a result, our scientists were able to detect unrest and correctly forecast the likely behavior of the volcano before it erupted."

Based on historical records from the eruptions in 1976 and 1986, as well as all available data from this eruption, the Alaska Volcano Observatory expects the current sequence of explosions will likely continue for several days to perhaps two to three weeks. The principal hazard associated with these explosions is airborne ash that can be transported downwind for hundreds of miles. Dangerous pyroclastic flows and mudflows are expected to occur on all flanks of the volcano.

The five eruptive events on Friday occurred at 4:44 AM, 8:47 AM, 11:22 AM, 4:40 PM and 6:58 pm. Shortly past midnight, another eruptive event was recorded.

Augustine is monitored constantly by the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

On the Web:

Augustine Webcam
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/webcam/augustine.php

Alaska Volcano Observatory
http://www.avo.alaska.edu

 

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Ketchikan, Alaska