BOOM goes the mountaintop! Mt. Redoubt blows its lid four times!

A fourth explosion rocked long-threatening Mount Redoubt at 1:39 a.m. today after three eruptions earlier in the night sent an ash cloud an estimated 50,000 feet into the air, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported.

The first eruption came at 10:38 p.m. Sunday followed by another at 11:02 p.m., and a third at 12:14 a.m. today.

Winds were carrying the ash plume north toward the Susitna Valley, and an ash advisory has been issued for the area until 8 a.m., the National Weather Service said.

Ash was not expected in Anchorage or Wasilla at this time, the Weather Service said, although they said a light dusting might be possible.

Volcanic eruptions are no joke in Alaska. I remember the eruption of Mt. Augustine in 1976, when my father's snowmachine burst into flames because of a clogged carburetor. That scared my poor sister to death.

I also remember in 1992 when Mt. Spurr erupted and the whole sky grew so black it looked like the end of the world. Airports and schools closed, and I spent several long hard days cleaning up the seemingly endless amount of volcanic ash that covered Anchorage.

Yeah volcanic eruptions are definitely joke here in Alaska. Perhaps Governor Bobby Jindal would like to take a tour of our most recent eruption so he can see first hand just why volcano research is so important in Alaska. Perhaps spending a day sweeping up volcanic ash would give him a healthier respect for the devastation that can be caused when the earth literally bursts forth with fire and ash. Perhaps that would serve as a "stimulus" for his lazy intellect.

Update: Mt. Redoubt has erupted for a FIFTH time.

An erupting Mount Redoubt exploded again this morning at 4:31 a.m. -- its fifth and strongest discharge yet -- sending an ash cloud to new heights, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported.

Ash has now been detected at an elevation of 60,000 feet above sea level, the National Weather Service reported.

This is going to be a LONG day my friends.