ANCHORAGE, Alaska » Alaska’s most active volcano is spitting lava into the air and producing an ash cloud at low elevations.

The 8,262-foot Pavlof Volcano started erupting this week in a relatively uninhabited area of the Alaska Peninsula, about 625 miles southwest of Anchorage. The closest community is about 40 miles away.

Observers from that community, Cold Bay, reported seeing dark snow on the surface of the volcano Wednesday, indicating an eruption has started. The eruption intensified that afternoon and continued Friday.

An ash cloud from the volcano extends about 125 miles, but at a relatively low altitude of about 16,000 feet.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory says the eruption could continue for days, weeks or even months.

The volcano has had more than 40 eruptions, including earlier this year and last year.