Description: From McGimsey and others (2005): "Danny Rosenkrans, geologist for the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, contacted AVO on June 13, 2003 with photographs taken by a local resident on June 11, 2003 showing an unusual, towering, cloud over the summit area of Mt. Wrangell (fig. 4). Although the cloud might simply have been a common cumulus cloud fortuitously located at or near the summit, the lack of other cumulus clouds in the area over nearby Mts. Drum and Sanford suggest that instead, calm weather conditions permitted steam emissions from the known summit fumaroles to coalesce and form the plume-like cloud over Wrangell. AVO receives several reports per year from pilots and local residents who observe what they consider to be larger than normal steam clouds situated over the summit."
"On September 18, 2003 the Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU) called at 12:50 pm ADT with a Pilot Weather Report (PIREP) of a '2,000-to 2,300-foot-high steam plume' over Mt. Wrangell. The pilot reported no ash or sulfur smell. AVO scientists checked satellite imagery and seismograms and found nothing unusual."