USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-AVO-2026-03-11T15:53:34+00:00

AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Shishaldin (VNUM #311360)

Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Issued: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 8:12 AM AKDT
Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/A165
Location: N 54 deg 45 min W 163 deg 58 min
Elevation: 9373 ft (2857 m)
Area: Aleutians

Volcanic Activity Summary:

Strong northerly winds in the vicinity of Shishaldin Volcano have picked up loose volcanic ash and dust on the surface and are carrying it to the south. The National Weather Service has issued a SIGMET (https://www.weather.gov/aawu/sigmets) for this low-level event and suggests that the maximum cloud height is 6,000 ft (1.8 km) above sea level.

No eruption is in progress. This phenomenon is not the result of recent volcanic activity and occurs during times of high winds and dry snow-free conditions at Shishaldin and other volcanic areas of Alaska. Resuspended volcanic ash should be considered hazardous and could be damaging to aircraft and health.

Shishaldin Volcano remains in a state of volcanic unrest at Aviation Color Code YELLOW and Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. Numerous small earthquakes, infrasound signals, and volcanic tremor have been detected daily. A steam and gas plume is visible from the summit of the volcano when the weather is clear.

Local seismic and infrasound sensors, web cameras, and a geodetic network are used to monitor Shishaldin Volcano. In addition to the local monitoring network, AVO uses nearby geophysical networks, regional infrasound and lightning data, and satellite data to detect eruptions.

To view information about Shishaldin Volcano: https://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Shishaldin.php

Remarks:

Shishaldin Volcano, located near the center of Unimak Island in the eastern Aleutian Islands, is a spectacular symmetric cone with a base diameter of approximately 10 miles (16 km). A 660 ft. (200 m) wide funnel-shaped summit crater typically emits a steam plume and occasional small amounts of ash. Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc, with at least 54 episodes of unrest including over 26 confirmed eruptions since 1824. Most eruptions are relatively small, although activity during July–November, 2023 generated ash columns that reached between 30,000 ft (9 km) and 42,000 ft (13 km) above sea level.

Contacts:

Chris Waythomas, Acting Scientist-in-Charge, USGS cwaythomas@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

David Fee, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI dfee1@alaska.edu (907) 378-5460

Contact AVO: https://avo.alaska.edu/contact

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA)

WMAK01 PAVO 111612   
VONA
DTG:                    20260311/1612Z
VOLCANO:                SHISHALDIN 311360
PSN:                    N5445 W16358
AREA:                   ALASKA
SOURCE ELEV:            9373FT AMSL
NOTICE NR:              2026/01
CURRENT COLOUR CODE:    YELLOW
PREVIOUS COLOUR CODE:   YELLOW
SVO:                    ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
ACT STS:                RE-SUSPENDED VA
ONSET:                  NIL
DUR:                    NIL
VA CLD HGT:             6000FT AMSL
HGT SOURCE:             SIGMET
MOV:                    S
CTC:                    AVO DUTY SCIENTIST TEL +1-907-786-7497
RMK:                    NO ERUPTION. RESUSPENDED VA FROM GND LEVEL ONLY. SEE SIGMET FOR MORE INFO.
NXT NOTICE:             A NEW VONA WILL BE ISSUED IF COND CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OR IF THE COLOR CODE CHANGES
NNNN