Photo by McKibben Jackinsky Ashfall from this morning's eruption of Mount Redoubt blankets Homer's Pioneer Avenue.

"I looked over toward (Mount) Redoubt and saw a flash," Moran said.

The flash was followed by a lightning show that sent Moran back inside to wake his wife, Amanda.

"There was a black cloud and if you looked over there, you'd see lightning every now and then go through it," Amanda Moran said of orange streaks piercing the darkness. "Then, as the cloud was coming toward us, it was really neat because you could see the sky on both sides looked blue, but right in the middle it was dark. Then, all of a sudden, it got darker and darker. It was awesome."

Driving from Ninilchik to start his workday at Alyeska Sales and Service, Jeff Rogers was under the ash cloud as it moved across the southern Kenai Peninsula.

When Rogers reached the Baycrest pullout on the hill above Homer, where, on most other mornings, a view of Kachemak Bay and the mountains beyond frequently causes drivers to pull over for a photograph, Rogers did just that. This time, however, the photo he got was unlike anything he'd ever seen. Falling ash obscured views of the Spit. The dark cloud overhead blocked light from the sun.

Photo by McKibben Jackinsky Jeff Rogers, right, of Alyeska Sales and Service shows Ashleigh Imlay, left, and Diana Imlay how to change an air filter on their automobile. After being unable to catch a flight to Anchorage this morning due to Mount Redoubt's 6 a.m. eruption, the women were preparing to make the drive north.

"It looked like a desolate planet," Rogers said.

Friday, following a week of decreased activity from the volcano, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reduced Mount Redoubt's aviation color code from red to orange and the volcano alert level from warning to watch. Shortly before 5 a.m. today, the Alaska Volcano Observatory released an update that the intensity of ash-production had decreased.

An hour later, Redoubt erupted.

Shortly before 7 a.m., AVO's update announced a "significant explosive event," and reversal of the aviation color code and alert level back to red and warning. With an ash cloud reaching 50,000 feet above sea level headed in a southeast direction, the National Weather Service issued an ashfall advisory for the western Kenai Peninsula, including the cities of Kenai, Soldotna, Homer and Cooper Landing.

Photo by McKibben Jackinsky Tonia Curry-Ohlsen of Homer uses a dust mask to protect herself against this morning's ashfall.

By the time that announcement came, however, the Morans and Rogers and other Kenai Peninsula residents were well aware an event was occurring.

"I took my dog outside for a morning break and as soon as I stepped outside a couple steps, there was thunder. It had already been happening for a good hour before I got up," Ninilchik resident Liz Kruzick said of her walk outdoors shortly before 7 a.m.

Kruzick checked for announcements on television, radio and the AVO's Web site, but found nothing.

"All the channels this morning had cartoons on and nothing was being said to be aware that the volcano was erupting," Kruzick told the Homer News.

Finding no updates on Redoubt, Kruzick shot an e-mail to Steve MacDonald with KTUU television in Anchorage, and got a reply in short order, with an update of Redoubt's early morning explosion.

MacDonald was alerted of the volcano's activity by the station's control crew that works overnight. He immediately headed for the station and began fielding phone calls and emails. He also was thankful of the information provided by Kruzick.

"She was kind enough to give a little description of what she say," he said. "That really helped."

Photo by McKibben Jackinsky Ash from Mount Redoubt's 6 a.m. eruption today blankts rental cars along Kachemak Drive.

By 10 a.m., most ashfall has ceased on the peninsula. By noon, the plume rising above Redoubt had decreased to 15,000 feet; however, AVO was maintaining the alert level at warning and the aviation color code at red. The National Weather Service also cancelled the ashfall advisory.

Plans to partially draw down oil from a storage facility at the mouth of Drift River, approximately 22 miles from Redoubt's summit, were delayed until officials could determine whether flooding caused by the morning's eruption had damaged the facility.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com.