Mt. Fitzherbert

Potential ash hazards: Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift east to southeast.

Recent observations: Solidified lava continues to extrude slowly into the lava dome within the crater of Mount St. Helens. Seismometers, GPS receivers, and tiltmeters show patterns basically unchanged since the first of January. Field crews are heading to the mountain this morning to make visual observations of the new dome, to repair and/or de-ice instruments and cameras that are not working, and to replace batteries as needed. If weather remains good, work in the crater may continue tomorrow.