Alaska

A Mount Spurr eruption is ‘likely’ within weeks or months, scientists say

Published

11 months ago

March 12, 2025

A Mount Spurr eruption is ‘likely’ within weeks or months, scientists say

The sunrise illuminates Mt. Spurr, the closest volcano to Anchorage, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

The likelihood that Mount Spurr, the closest active volcano to Anchorage, will erupt is increasing, with scientists now saying an eruption is “likely” within weeks or months.

During flights over the volcano on March 7 and 11, scientists with the Alaska Volcano Observatory “measured significantly elevated volcanic gas emissions” and saw what were described as newly reactivated gas vents at Mount Spurr, about 75 miles west of Anchorage.

“Elevated earthquake activity and ground deformation continue,” the volcano observatory said in a bulletin.

The most likely scenario is an eruption similar to those that happened in 1953 and 1992, each lasting hours and producing clouds of ash that circulated for hundreds of miles, the scientists said in the bulletin. The previous eruptions coated Anchorage and other Southcentral Alaska cities with up to 1/4 inch of ash, canceling flights, fouling engines and plunging Anchorage into an eerie darkness.

For months, scientists with the observatory have been monitoring increasing earthquakes around the volcano, as well as other signs of an impending eruption such as bulging ground and melting snow.

The volcano is monitored with instruments including seismic sensors, satellite imagery and web cameras, among other tools, and scientists say they expect Mount Spurr to show more signs of activity before an eruption.

“We expect to see further increases in seismic activity, gas emissions, and surface heating prior to an eruption, if one were to occur,” the bulletin said. “Such stronger unrest may provide days to weeks of additional warning.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Source link

Related Topics:Featured Mount Spurr mt spurr volcano

Click to comment

Alaska

Fairbanks musher captures Yukon Quest Alaska victory

Published

9 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Press Room

Fairbanks musher captures Yukon Quest Alaska victory

Just over a year after finishing second in her hometown race, Fairbanks musher Josi Shelley returned triumphant, crossing the finish line at 8:11 p.m. Monday to win her first Yukon Quest Alaska in a total time of 9 days, 9 hours, 11 minutes over the 750-mile distance.

Source link

Alaska

Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic updates contact information

Published

21 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Press Room

Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic updates contact information

A 29-foot Response Boat–Small crew from Coast Guard Station Seattle enforces a security zone at a parade of ships event during during the annual Fleet Week and Seafair Festival celebration in Seattle August 1, 2022. Multiple Coast Guard Cutter crews from around the Puget Sound region joined two Navy ships and two Royal Canadian Navy vessels during the parade along Seattle’s waterfront. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Travis Magee)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard has changed the contact information for Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic staff offices and other units throughout Western Alaska as part of a service-wide telephone modernization directive, Thursday, Feb. 12.

The main phone line for the sector can now be reached at (206) 815-7100.

Callers will be presented with a phone tree, providing them with options to contact one of the following:

Search and Rescue Command Center
National Response Center
Command Executive Assistant
Response Department
Prevention Department
Logistics Department
Emergency Management Division
Other Coast Guard units in Alaska

These other units can be reached directly at the numbers listed below or by dialing the main phone line for Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic and pressing 8 at the automated menu.

Unit Advertisement	New Phone Number
Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic – Phone Tree (Previously Sector Anchorage)	(206) 815-7100
Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic – Advertisement 24/7 Search and Rescue Command Center	(866) 396-1361
Regional Exam Center Anchorage	(206) 815-6454
Recruiting Office Anchorage Advertisement	(206) 815-6345
Coast Guard Investigative Service Anchorage	(206) 815-6738
Marine Safety Detachment Homer	(206) 815-6992 Advertisement
Marine Safety Unit Kodiak	(206) 815-7145
Marine Safety Unit Dutch Harbor	(206) 815-6842
Marine Safety Unit Valdez Advertisement	(206) 815-6945
Arctic District Command Center (Previously 17th Coast Guard District)	(800) 478-5555

Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic remains physically located on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The sector Search and Rescue Command Center watchstanders are available 24 hours a day at (866) 396-1361 and VHF Channel 16.

For media inquiries, please contact uscgalaska@uscg.mil.

-USCG-

Source link

Alaska

Next winter storm heads to Western Alaska making landfall Monday night

Published

1 day ago

February 16, 2026

Press Room

Next winter storm heads to Western Alaska making landfall Monday night

ANCHORAGE, AK (Alaska’s News Source) – A Winter Storm Watch has been issued from Monday morning across the Western region just shortly after a Winter Storm Warning expired following Friday’s storm.

Across the Western coastline from Kotzebue to Dillingham, weather alerts will be active Monday morning as the next storm will make landfall Monday afternoon, with the second stage of this storm moving in Tuesday night. Heaviest snowfall amounts are likely in Norton Sound, Yukon Valley, and Upper Kuskokwim Valley. Snow totals from this next storm are likely from 6 to 12 inches of snow across the Winter Storm Watch region with wind gusts as high as 60 MPH adding to reduced visibility and white out conditions. Dillingham is under a Winter Weather Advisory as less snow accumulation is anticipated with 3 to 5 inches Monday. Bethel will be under a blizzard warning from Monday morning to Monday night as 3 to 7 inches of snow are likely paired with gusts up to 55 MPH.

The Aleutian Chain will get moderate rainfall, about 0.4 to 0.6 inches, as early as Sunday night into Monday morning with heaviest rainfall from Unalaska up the Alaska Peninsula.

Download the free Alaska’s News Source Weather App.

Interior Alaska had a snowy weekend, making Valentine’s Day feel a little more like Christmas. Around noon Sunday, Fairbanks reported about 10.1 inches of snowfall but more is expected into the evening hours across the region. By Monday, it’ll feel like the snow never even happened as mostly sunny to clear skies will brighten your day. Temperatures will plummet nearly 20 degrees from Sunday to Monday, but a return in this winter weather should be expected by Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.

The North Slope is staying out of the way of these winter storms as the Brooks Range protects the region from snow, however, the main concern continues with colder temperatures. Lows nearly 25 to 30 degrees below zero will feel a bit colder as wind chill will reach -55 to -60 degrees.

Send us your weather photos and videos here!

In Southcentral, mostly sunny skies are closing out the weekend and kicking off the work week, but colder temperatures are returning as a result of a cooling trend impacting most of the state. Strong wind gusts up to 50 MPH will affect Seward, Valdez, Cordova and Whittier on Monday.

Southeast is on the brink of a high pressure system which will cool temperatures roughly 10 to 15 degrees, also shifting in mostly sunny skies. High wind is a concern for Juneau and Skagway Monday as wind gusts could reach up to 40 and 45 MPH.

24/7 Alaska Weather: Get access to live radar, satellite, weather cameras, current conditions, and the latest weather forecast here. Also available through the Alaska’s News Source streaming app available on Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

Source link