AVO reported that diffuse ash plume from Cleveland was observed on satellite imagery drifting 12 km SE at an altitude below 1.5 km (5,000 ft) a.s.l. during a break in cloud cover on 8 February. Later that day AVO received pilot reports of an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 6.1 km (20,000 ft) a.s.l. and observed the plume on satellite imagery drifting NW. Due to the increased activity, the Volcanic Alert Level was raised to Watch and the Aviation Color Code was raised to Orange. No precursory or current seismic information is available because Cleveland does not have a real-time seismic network. During 10-11 February, a thermal anomaly was possibly visible on satellite imagery. The Volcanic Alert Level was lowered back to Advisory and the Aviation Color Code was lowered to Yellow on 12 February.

Geological Summary. The beautifully symmetrical Mount Cleveland stratovolcano is situated at the western end of the uninhabited Chuginadak Island. It lies SE across Carlisle Pass strait from Carlisle volcano and NE across Chuginadak Pass strait from Herbert volcano. Joined to the rest of Chuginadak Island by a low isthmus, Cleveland is the highest of the Islands of the Four Mountains group and is one of the most active of the Aleutian Islands. The native name, Chuginadak, refers to the Aleut goddess of fire, who was thought to reside on the volcano. Numerous large lava flows descend the steep-sided flanks. It is possible that some 18th-to-19th century eruptions attributed to Carlisle should be ascribed to Cleveland (Miller et al., 1998). In 1944 it produced the only known fatality from an Aleutian eruption. Recent eruptions have been characterized by short-lived explosive ash emissions, at times accompanied by lava fountaining and lava flows down the flanks.

Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)