Alaska's Mount Redoubt erupts

Mount Redoubt, a volcano in southern Alaska, began erupting late Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The eruption, starting about 11:38 p.m. Sunday local time (2:38 a.m. Monday EDT), was obscured by darkness and snow. But the initial height of the eruption cloud was estimated at less than 20,000 feet above sea level, the USGS said.

With the eruption, mudflows were possible on the Drift and Crescent Rivers, and ashfall was likely near and downwind from the volcano, the USGS said.