The premise of Dante's Peak sounds like it could bury the competition in a mountain of smoldering ash. The forces of nature that transpire when an agitated volcano blows its stack favor the Destructo Meter. Lightning strikes through clouds heavily charged with dust particles.
Fireballs rain down terror as the volcano erupts.
Rivers of molten lava scorch the earth. Gale force winds triggered by the violent explosion huff and puff. Mother Nature sure throws one hell of a hissy fit. Ellie May, we don't break out the Kleenex. As per the Disaster Film Bible, Dalton has earlier lost a loved one to the 'beast'.