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According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, the likelihood of an eruption occurring in the next few weeks at Alaska’s Mount Spurr has increased. The volcano, which last erupted in 1992 (it also erupted in 1953), has shown signs of increased activity this week.
Last month it was reported that Mount Spurr, located around 75 miles west of Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, has experienced hundreds of small earthquakes beneath its surface. Scientists also noted that surrounding areas are being heated up by rising magma making its way to the volcano’s surface.
Now, a report published by the Alaska Volcano Observatory this week states that scientists have measured “significantly elevated volcanic gas emissions,” indicating an eruption is becoming more likely in the coming weeks.
“During overflights on March 7 and 11, AVO measured significantly elevated volcanic gas emissions from Mount Spurr volcano. Newly reactivated fumaroles (gas vents) were also seen at the volcano’s Crater Peak vent. Elevated earthquake activity and ground deformation continue,” they said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The increase in gas emissions confirms that new magma has intruded into the Earth’s crust beneath the volcano and indicates that an eruption is likely, but not certain, to occur within the next few weeks or months.
“The most likely outcome of the current unrest is an explosive eruption (or eruptions) like those that occurred in 1953 and 1992,” the statement continued. “Those eruptions each lasted a few hours and produced ash clouds that were carried downwind for hundreds of miles and minor ashfall (up to about 1/4-inch) on southcentral Alaska communities.
“We expect to see further increases in seismic activity, gas emissions and surface heating prior to an eruption, if one were to occur. Such stronger unrest may provide days to weeks of additional warning.”
#Spurr Information Statement
March 12, 2025
Synopsis: Likelihood of eruption in the next few weeks or months has increased. Unrest continues with significant gas emissions measured on Mar 7 and 11. Video: Spurr summit steaming on March 7, M. Mitchell AVO/USGS (1/6) pic.twitter.com/aJkt9QyHC5— Alaska AVO (@alaska_avo) March 12, 2025
The Alaska Volcano Observatory also issued a warning, writing, “While we expect additional changes to monitoring data prior to an eruption, it is also possible that an eruption could occur with little or no additional warning. This would be extremely hazardous for recreators on Mount Spurr or near its drainages as well as those overflying the volcano. In addition, CO2 and SO2 emissions are currently elevated and may pose a hazard to anyone in low-lying areas around or downwind of the gas vents, such as within the craters atop Crater Peak and Spurr summit. CO2 is a colorless and odorless gas and hazardous areas of high CO2 cannot be detected by sight or smell.”
Last month, the observatory also warned, “One or more explosive events lasting one or a few hours would produce ash clouds carried downwind for hundreds of miles, and the uninhabited area around Mount Spurr would be inundated by pyroclastic flows, mudflows, and ballistic showers.”
All that being said, much like NASA anytime an asteroid comes close to smashing into Earth, the observatory says that a Mount Spurr eruption poses “no kind of local threat.” Take that as you will.