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 would drift broadly north to northeast throughout the day, depending on the height of ascent.

Recent observations: Weather conditions are clear, cold, and sunny this morning at Mount St. Helens. Seismic and GPS instruments indicate that lava extrusion continues in remarkably uniform manner. An earthquake about 9:25 p.m. last night had preliminary magnitude 3, at the high end of the larger temblors that occur 3-4 times per day; whereas the smaller relentless drumbeats hit once every 2-3 minutes. The graphed progress of a GPS receiver on the new dome forms a line as straight as an arrow, indicating unswerving westward lava motion about 0.9 m per day.

Those choosing to snowmobile, ski, or snowshoe in the permitted areas on the volcano’s flanks should remain aware to the small possibility of change in volcanic conditions. Be particularly alert near steeper slopes, where the likelihood of small local snow avalanches may be heightened by the sporadic larger earthquakes.