Mt. Fitzherbert

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

Recent observations: Images from remote cameras show that the extrusion of the new lava dome continues unabated, despite relatively low seismicity levels. Views from the US Forest Service web camera at the Johnston Ridge Observatory are clear this morning and show a small steam plume emanating from the new lava dome, as well as dust coming from minor rockfalls on the crater walls and the growing lava dome. Occasional larger rockfalls may produce ash clouds large enough to be visible from the Portland area. USGS field crews yesterday installed a new temporary camera ~500 feet from the active spine to enable high-spatial-resolution time-lapse analysis of lava dome extrusion, and also installed most of the infrastructure for a new permanent seismic station to be located on the southwest flank of the volcano. Field plans today include airborne gas & infrared measurements as well as helicopter-supported hydrology work.