What is the current status of Mt. St. Helens?

Mount St. Helens reflected in Spirit Lake, May 19, 1992. Photo by Lyn Topinka, USGS/CVO

The U.S. Geological Survey's Cascade Volcano Observatory reports that the number of small magnitude earthquakes (less than magnitude 1) beneath Mount St. Helens has increased slowly and steadily from less than 10 events per month in January (1995) to about 100 events per month in September (1995). They point out that the volcano has been quiet during this period and that no explosion or emission of gas or ash has occurred from the lava dome. Similar seismic activity was observed prior to and during a series of small gas explosions from the dome in 1989-1991. Although these explosions were relatively small, they did throw dome rocks 1 foot (30 cm) in diameter 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the dome and sent ash plumes as high as 20,000 feet (6,100 m) above the sea level. Because these events can happen without warning some trails in the area have been closed. For additional information visit the CVO home page .