Located about 75 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska, within the Tordrillo Mountains, is Mount Spurr - an 11,000-foot-tall volcano. And officials fear it could be heading toward an eruption.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory wrote that they are 'monitoring activity at Mount Spurr for signals indicating that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption.'
They reported that seismic activity remains 'elevated with numerous small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano.' After observation flights flew over the volcano in early March, scientists reported increased levels of volcanic gases around the summit crater and the crater peak vent.
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“So, that was that caught everyone’s attention at the observatory, because that’s the vent that the most recent eruptions came from,” said Matt Haney, a scientist-in-charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
However, an eruption isn’t imminent. Experts say they expect to see more warning signs first, like ground deformation and increased steam activity as a result of magma rising closer to the surface. “If an eruption occurred, it would be preceded by additional signals allowing warning," the officials said.
That said, people in South Central Alaska are being advised to start preparing and familiarise themselves with the possible dangers associated with an eruption. Ashfall, for example, would be a threat to surrounding communities.
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Other hazards, like pyroclastic flows (a fast-moving mix of hot gas, ash and rock) and mudflows, would affect the immediate area of the volcano.
While no towns are located directly near Mount Spurr, the area is a popular destination for hikers and tourists. “Anyone considering a visit to the area around Spurr should be aware of these hazards, keep up to date with Spurr activity,” the group posted on X (formerly Twitter). “And obey any restrictions that might be put in place by land and emergency managers.”
In October 2024, the volcano’s alert level was raised from green to yellow after months of increased activity, such as small earthquakes. One of which was the formation of a small lake in the summit crater during the summer.
Mount Spurr has erupted several times in the past. In 1953, an eruption shot ash 30,000 feet into the air, which rained down on Anchorage and shut down the city’s main airport for two days.
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Then, in 1992, three different eruptions happened in three separate months - June, August, and September. The August blast was the most troublesome, covering Anchorage in ash and closing three regional airports for 20 hours. The ash even drifted over the central part of the US, causing air traffic issues as far as the Midwest.