Update, Thursday morning: Alaska Airlines canceled about two dozen flights to, from and within Alaska on Thursday morning because of an ash cloud from a volcano in Russia. This story is no longer being updated; click here for the latest updates.
Original story Wednesday:
A massive volcanic eruption on Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula is not expected to send ash into Alaska.
The Shiveluch volcano, which began erupting Tuesday, sent clouds of ash over 41,700 square miles and coated nearby villages in up to 3 inches of dust. Ash spewed at least 50,000 feet into the air.
Researchers here say the eruption is not expected to deposit any ash on the ground in Alaska, though it’s possible it could affect air traffic around the Aleutian Islands depending on future activity levels.
“Even though it’s a larger eruption, it’s not sending ash as far as Alaska,” said Tim Orr, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory. “The ashes are falling out before it gets here.”
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The eruption appeared to be waning by Wednesday afternoon, Orr said. It seemed unlikely there would be an increase in activity big enough to send ash over the state, although it may affect air traffic over the Aleutian Islands, he said.
The peninsula about 1,800 miles west of Anchorage is one of the world’s most concentrated areas of geothermal activity, with about 30 active volcanoes.