Alaska's Pavlof Volcano Unleashed Strongest Eruption of the Year

Alaska's Pavlof volcano unleashed its strongest eruption of the year, sending a distinct plume of smoke as high as 28,000 feet above sea level and scattering ash as far as 30 miles away.

Pavlof has been erupting since May 13, but the latest cycle of eruptive activity shows increased vigor form the 8,261-foot (2,518-meter) high mountain, with lava likely fountaining from the summit, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reports, noting that "the seismicity is characterized by intense, continuous tremor and intermittent small explosions that are likely associated with lava fountaining and ash production."

Tina Neal, a geologist with the AVO told Reuters that the increased volcanic activity is somewhat of a mystery.

"For some reason we can't explain, it picked up in intensity and vigor," Neal said.

The eruption occurred Monday night and lasted into Tuesday. There are reports of local flights being disrupted because the ash plume, while commercial flights have so far been unaffected.

To the north of Pavlof, the Veniaminof volcano is also going through a continued period of eruption, though its ash cloud has so far not been disruptive.

An elevated volcano alert level of "watch" and aviation color code of "orange" are in place for both volcanoes.

Despite the close proximity of the two volcanoes, volcanologists report the eruptions are not related to on another.

To the extreme west, in a remote section of the Aleutian Island chain, a third volcano, Mount Cleveland, has also seen on-and-off eruptions since 2011, but the mountain has been quiet since the beginning of May, Reuters reported.