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 northward to northeastward.

Recent observations: Dacitic lava dome growth continues within the crater of Mount St. Helens. Small "drumbeat" earthquakes associated with dome extrusion also continue, though they are faintly evident on seismometers outside of the crater. Yesterday, with the first clear weather in over a month, crews were in the field observing the new dome, repairing instruments, replacing batteries, and exhuming cameras from ice and snow. The new dome is noticeably taller and broader than when last viewed in December. Rockfalls from its summit generated small ash plumes that slowly rose above the crater rim and dissipated as they drifted east. Crews are in the field again today surveying the Muddy River drainage and repairing repeater sites.