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Mount St. Helens volcano, Washington, USA: news & activity updates

Updated: Jul 15, 2025 09:09 GMT-

Mount St. Helens volcano (Washington, USA): elevated seismic activity poses no threats so far

Tue, 31 Oct 2023, 06:49
Digital elevation model of Mount St. Helens volcano and earthquake density during 1987-2004. Areas with a lot of earthquakes are in blue, while areas with fewer earthquakes are sho ...
Digital elevation model of Mount St. Helens volcano and earthquake density during 1987-2004. Areas with a lot of earthquakes are in blue, while areas with fewer earthquakes are shown in oranges and browns. The earthquakes associated with the current episode are shown in orange (image: CVO)
The Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO, USGS) reported that seismic activity at the volcano has been elevated over the past three months. Read all

St. Helens volcano (Washington) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 10 May-16 May 2023 (Continuing Activity)

Wed, 17 May 2023, 14:00
USGS reported that at 2045 on 14 May a debris flow in Mount St. Helens'South Coldwater Creek destroyed a Highway SR 504 bridge, cutting off access and power to Johnston Ridge Observatory. While the loss of power interrupted a major telemetry hub, other stations remined operational and continued to provide data; the debris flow was recorded in seismic data from nearby stations. Read all

St. Helens volcano (Washington) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 10 May-16 May 2023 (Continuing Activity)

Thu, 11 May 2023, 10:00
USGS reported that at 2045 on 14 May a debris flow in Mount St. Helens'South Coldwater Creek destroyed a Highway SR 504 bridge, cutting off access and power to Johnston Ridge Observatory. While the loss of power interrupted a major telemetry hub, other stations remined operational and continued to provide data; the debris flow was recorded in seismic data from nearby stations. Read all

Background

Prior to the 1980 eruption, Mount St. Helens formed a conical, youthful volcano sometimes called the Fuji-san of America. During the 1980 eruption the upper 400 m of the summit was removed by collapse of the slope, that left a 2 x 3.5 km horseshoe-shaped crater now partially filled by a lava dome. Mount St. Helens is a very young volcano and only about 40-50,000 years old.
It has been the most active volcano in the Cascade Range during the past 10,000 years, and the modern edifice was constructed during the last 2,200 years, when the volcano produced basaltic as well as andesitic and dacitic products from summit and flank vents. Historical eruptions in the 19th century were witnessed by early settlers.


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Sources:

USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
St. Helens Information from the Global Volcanism Program


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stratovolcano 2549 m / 8,363 ft
Washington, USA, 46.2°N / -122.18°W
Map of Mount St. Helens volcano Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5) Mount St. Helens volcano eruptions:
2004-08, 1990-91, 1989-90, 1980-86 (18 May 1980: Plinian eruption), 1921(?), 1903(?), 1898(?), 1857, 1854, 1853, 1850, 1849(?), 1848, 1847, 1842-45, 1835, 1831
Typical eruption style
Explosive
Satellite images of Mt.St. Helens by (c) Google Earth View
Satellite images of Mt.St. Helens by (c) Google Earth View
Mt. St. Helens in Sept. 2005, seen from the N with its grand amphitheatre left by the collapse during the 18 May, 1980 eruption (photo courtesy: W Heise).
Mt. St. Helens in Sept. 2005, seen from the N with its grand amphitheatre left by the collapse during the 18 May, 1980 eruption (photo courtesy: W Heise).
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