UPDATE: The National Weather Service says the ash plume from today's Augustine Volcano eruption is NOT heading toward Anchorage. The plume advanced north but was expected to remain west of Anchorage. Bob Hopkins is meteorologist in charge at the weather service Anchorage office. He says the plume was advancing at about 20 miles per hour. A flight advisory was issued for pilots for an area 20 miles east and west of the volcano and about 50 miles north.

The weather service estimates the ash cloud is 28-thousand feet high. Hopkins says it appears to be carrying only low concentrations of ash.

Municipality of Anchorage Office of Emergency Management

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The Alaska Volcano Observatory says Mount Augustine Volcano has erupted. Geologist Jennifer Adleman says an ash cloud has been confirmed.

The observatory estimates the cloud is about 30-thousand feet high.

Residents of Clam Gulch on the Kenai Peninsula told the observatory they had spotted ash in their community. Adleman says she's not sure if ash was spotted in the air or on the ground.

A pair of explosions this morning shortly before five a.m. marked the onset of the eruption.

The volcano is 75 miles southwest of Homer and about 180 miles southwest of Anchorage.

The observatory says it plans flights today to gain more information on the   kinds of gasses that the mountain expelled.

The four-thousand-134-foot volcano last erupted in 19-86. The explosions today were preceded by increased earthquake activity last night.

That prompted the observatory to upgrade the level of concern code from yellow to orange. With the explosions, the code is now red.