Thar she blows!!!! Mt. Redoubt ERUPTS!!!! 8PM UPDATE

UPDATE: Another major eruption as of 7:41 this evening. A new ash cloud is billowing forth and reaching 60,000ft. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED AN ASH FALL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM AKDT TUESDAY. As per the Anchorage Daily News: "At a 3 a.m. press conference today, AVO geophysicist John Powers said -- looking at the history of Redoubt eruptions -- this event might continue for months." WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

Nighty night!

Image courtesy of AVO

Camera is located at AVO's Redoubt Hut, approximately 7.5 mi (12 km) from Redoubt's summit crater. This camera provides a view of the north flank of Redoubt. This camera is in a remote location and operates on battery power.

Approximate sunrise/sunset times at the Redoubt - Hut webcam:

Monday March, 23, 2009:

Sunrise: 08:03 AKDT

Sunset: 20:31 AKDT

Heather Bleick / AVO / USGS
Redoubt volcano spews steam and ash from a crater on its north flank March 15, 2009.

*Ash cloud is now up to 60,000 ft after the 5th and strongest eruption around 4am this morning. Ash is still expected to miss Anchorage. Whew.

Updated story here:
Fifth explosion rocks Mount Redoubt volcano by GEORGE BRYSON

After months of threatening rumbles, Mount Redoubt finally exploded overnight in five separate eruptions, the latest sometime 5 a.m. today.

A fourth explosion had rocked the volcano at 1:39 a.m. after three eruptions earlier in the night sent an ash cloud an estimated 50,000 feet into the air, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported.

The first eruption came at 10:38 p.m. Sunday followed by another at 11:02 p.m., and a third at 12:14 a.m. today.

Winds were carrying the ash plume north toward the Susitna Valley, and an ash advisory has been issued for the area until 8 a.m., the National Weather Service said.
Ash was not expected in Anchorage or Wasilla at this time, the Weather Service said, although they said a light dusting might be possible.