Alaska’s Mount Spurr could erupt in weeks, scientists warn | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
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Alaska’s Mount Spurr could erupt in weeks, scientists warn

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Published  March 12, 2025 9:28pm CDT
Wild Nature
FOX TV Digital Team

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The Brief

    • The Alaska Volcano Observatory has detected heightened volcanic gas emissions at Mount Spurr, indicating a possible eruption in the coming weeks or months.
    • The volcano’s Crater Peak vent last erupted in 1992, sending ash clouds over 50,000 feet into the air and disrupting air travel.
    • If Mount Spurr erupts, it could cause widespread ashfall, impacting Anchorage and surrounding communities while potentially grounding flights at one of the world’s busiest cargo airports.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Mount Spurr, an 11,070-foot volcano located about 80 miles northwest of Anchorage, is showing heightened signs of activity, prompting concerns about a potential eruption.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reported "significantly elevated volcanic gas emissions" during recent monitoring flights. While an eruption is not certain, scientists warn that the probability has increased.

"We expect to see further increases in seismic activity, gas emissions, and surface heating prior to an eruption, if one were to occur," the observatory said in a statement.

AVO officials noted that while previous periods of activity at Mount Spurr did not result in an eruption, the current trends resemble those seen before its last eruptions in 1953 and 1992.

How active is Mount Spurr?

The backstory:

Mount Spurr is one of 53 volcanoes in Alaska that have been active in the past 250 years. Though the main summit vent has remained dormant for over 5,000 years, its Crater Peak vent has erupted multiple times, most recently in 1992.

That eruption sent plumes of volcanic ash over 50,000 feet into the air, leading to ashfall in Anchorage and prompting temporary airport closures. Since then, the volcano has experienced periods of increased seismic activity, including between 2004 and 2006, but no eruptions.

Scientists say that if Mount Spurr erupts again, it is most likely to produce an event similar to those of the 1953 and 1992 eruptions—meaning ash clouds, disruptions to air travel, and potential hazards for local communities.

How could an eruption impact Alaska?

What's next:

If Mount Spurr erupts, the most immediate threat would be to aviation. Volcanic ash can damage jet engines, and the 1992 eruption temporarily shut down airports in Anchorage and other areas.

FILE - Satellite view of Mount Spurr, Alaska. (Photo by Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025)

Beyond travel disruptions, a significant eruption could result in ashfall across south-central Alaska, forcing residents to stay indoors or wear masks, much like in 1992 when a quarter-inch of ash covered Anchorage.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory continues to monitor the situation closely. Officials say stronger unrest, including more seismic activity and surface heating, would likely provide additional warning before an eruption. However, there is still a chance that the current activity will subside without an eruption.

For now, scientists and emergency planners are keeping a close watch on Mount Spurr as they prepare for any potential impact on Alaska’s largest city and beyond.

The Source: This article was reported from Los Angeles. It is based on reporting from The Associated Press and information from the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), which monitors volcanic activity across the state. 

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