Mt. Fitzherbert

Aerial views taken on 2007-Apr-20

Recent observations: Beautiful views of the crater are to be seen from the Johnston Ridge Observatory this morning. Two small earthquakes during the past 36 hours could be seen above the very low level of background seismicity. The largest of these was magnitude 2.5. Minor steam plumes were visible above the crater during yesterday's good weather and may be visible today as well, given the sunny weather outlook.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:13 | Permalink

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 northeastward early in the day to more eastwardly later in the day.

Recent observations: Variable clouds around the volcano offer occasional glimpses into the crater from remote cameras and which show no unusual activity. A M6.2 regional earthquake in the western Aleutians of Alaska at 12:41:56 UTC or 5:41 a.m. PDT is clearly seen on the PNSN webicorders. Deformation rates and seismic levels at Mount St. Helens remain very low and the character of the eruption remains unchanged.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 17:51 | Permalink

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 northeastward.

Recent observations: After morning clouds, the mountain partially cleared this afternoon, allowing fleeting glimpses of the crater. Seismicity has been low except for rockfalls in the crater. Rockfall activity may have been partially responsible for a thermal plume above the volcano that was visible in some satellite images yesterday. There was no detectable ash associated with this thermal anomaly.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 18:32 | Permalink

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 eastward to northeastward.

Recent observations: Low, spotty clouds are drifting past the mountain this morning, allowing brief glimpses of the crater from the north. Seismic stations in and near the crater have recorded minor rockfalls during the past 24 hours, but no other significant activity.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:42 | Permalink

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 southeastward.

Recent observations: Misty clouds are obscuring the crater and upper flanks of the volcano this morning from Johnston Ridge. Seismicity is currently very quiet.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:20 | Permalink

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 northeastward early in the day to southeastward later in the day.

Recent observations: Stormy weather persists and clouds again obscure the crater. Deformation rates and seismicity remain very low as the extrusion of the lava dome continues.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 19:46 | Permalink

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 northeastward throughout the day.

Recent observations: The clouds are currently at crater rim level and from the remote camera at the USFS' Johnston Ridge Observatory one can clearly see the termini of the two arms of the Crater Glacier. Disruption of the glacier by the eruption has caused dramatic movement of the glacier northward and termini appear to be encircling the older 1980s lava dome. Deformation rates and seismicity remain very low as the extrusion of the lava dome continues.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:39 | Permalink

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 northeastward at low altitudes and south-southeastward at higher altitudes early in the day. Later in the day any ash would drift northeastward at all altitudes.

Recent observations: Data from monitoring stations show no change in the character of seismicity or ground deformation as slow extrusion of the lava dome continues. We should have nice views of the volcano later today as low clouds disperse; possibly with a visible vapor plume rising above the crater rim.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:46 | Permalink

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 northward throughout the day.

Recent observations: Unsettled spring weather continues to blanket the volcano in clouds today, obscuring any views from the remote cameras. Deformation rates and seismic levels remain very low and the character of the eruption remains unchanged from that of recent months.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 12:27 | Permalink

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 east, northeast, and north.

Recent observations: Stormy weather has returned to the region and blanketed Mount St. Helens in clouds today, obscuring views from Johnston Ridge Observatory. Field crews took advantage of yesterday’s fine weather to perform aerial reconnaissance, service instruments, and install a new experimental camera system on the crater rim. Seismicity levels remain very low, and the character of the eruption remains unchanged from that of recent months.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:14 | Permalink

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 mostly to the east.

Recent observations: Mostly clear skies afford good views of the volcano this morning. Atmospheric conditions are favorable for a visible plume of condensed vapor to rise from the new dome, possibly to altitudes above the crater rim. Seismicity remains very low, and instrumental records indicate that the eruption continues in the same quiescent manner as in recent months.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:24 | Permalink

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 east-southeast to southeast.

Recent observations: Data from monitoring systems show no changes from recent trends as lava extrusion continues. The few winter photographs we have been able to obtain from an often rime-encrusted remote camera on the east crater rim show that dome growth during the past few months has resulted in broadening, especially southward, and a reduction in maximum height. Exact measurements will require additional analysis.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:30 | Permalink

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: Low clouds have generally precluded views of Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge Observatory this morning. Seismicity remains at remarkably low levels as lava extrusion continues onto the south crater floor. There have been no significant changes in the last 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:43 | Permalink

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 eastward.

Recent observations: Another nice day at Mount St. Helens provides good visibility into the crater, though clouds may obscure the view later in the day. Seismicity remains at remarkably low levels as lava extrusion continues onto the south crater. There have been no significant changes in the last 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:13 | Permalink

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 eastward.

Recent observations: The mountain is quiet today, and visibility is good. Seismicity remains at low levels, and lava extrustion is presumed to continue. No significant changes have occurred in the last 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 12:26 | Permalink

• Coldwater Ridge visitor center at Mount St. Helens to close 2007-Apr-14 10:54 from KING (ch.5) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. - The Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center near this southwest Washington volcano will close permanently on Nov. 5, Gifford Pinchot National Forest officials said Friday.

  The closure is designed to "meet the goal of delivering visitor services across the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument," according to a news release.

  In addition, the Forest Service will transfer its Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Gifford Pinchot officials said that transfer would be the culmination of a "more than six-year partnership between the two agencies."

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 16:24 | Permalink

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 eastward.

Recent observations: Visibility into the crater is poor today, and instrumentation indicates low levels of activity for both deformation and seismicity. With the occasional small rockfall or earthquake, there has been no change in activity in the last 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 14:35 | Permalink

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 east or southeast early in the day and northeast later in the day.

Recent observations: It is another quiet day here at Mount St. Helens. The volcano is in and out of cloud cover this morning. Seismicity and deformation remain at low levels, though lava continues to extrude onto the south crater floor.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:03 | Permalink

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 east or southeast.

Recent observations: It is another quiet day here at Mount St. Helens, and the volcano is shrouded in clouds. Seismicity and deformation remain at low levels, though lava continues to extrude onto the south crater floor.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:08 | Permalink

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 east at high altitudes early in the day and to the north-northwest at high altitudes later in the day. At low altitudes, any ash clouds would drift to the northwest.

Recent observations: It is another quiet day here at Mount St. Helens, with good visibility into the crater of the volcano this morning. Seismicity and deformation remain at low levels, though lava continues to extrude onto the south crater floor. Several small earthquakes (M 2) have occurred in the past 24 hours, although these are not unusual

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:23 | Permalink

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 east or east-southeast.

Recent observations: It is another quiet day here at Mount St. Helens, with occasional visibility into the crater of the volcano. Seismicity and deformation remain at low levels, though lava continues to extrude onto the south crater floor. No significant changes have occurred in the last 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:47 | Permalink

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 northeastward.

Recent observations: Its another quiet day here at Mount St. Helens, with increasing visibility this morning into the crater of the volcano. Seismicity and deformation remain at low levels, though lava continues to extrude onto the south crater floor. No significant changes have occurred in the last 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:47 | Permalink

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 northward.

Recent observations: The crater of Mount St. Helens is, suprisingly, obscured by clouds this morning, but geodetic and seismic instruments indicate that the lava dome continues to grow as a large pile of rubble on the south crater floor. No changes in activity have been detected in the last 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:01 | Permalink

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 north-northeast.

Recent observations: It is sunny and warm at Mount St. Helens today. The steaming new lava dome is clearly visible in remotely situated camera images. Seismic stations in and around the volcano are communicating a record of steady but slow lava extrusion, sporadic shallow earthquakes (M1 to M3) and intermittent rockfalls, all associated with continued dome growth in the crater.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 12:21 | Permalink

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 northeast.

Recent observations: The crater is visble under mostly sunny skies. Low-level seismic signals, accented by occasional M2 to M3 earthquakes and associated rockfalls, indicate continued dome growth and no significant change in eruptive activity.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:29 | Permalink

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 northeast in the morning but east by afternoon.

Recent observations: The volcano extrudes a lava spine placidly this morning, judging from the background seismicity and sparse GPS data. A few earthquakes reach into the M2 to M3 range each day, and all earthquakes are within 1.5 km of the vent. Small inconsequential rockfalls may be associated with some of the earthquakes. State Route 504 to Coldwater Ridge visitor center reopened earlier this week following a landslide closure.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:33 | Permalink

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 east-southeast in the morning, changing to northeast by afternoon.

Recent observations: Background seismicity remains at low levels, punctuated by intermittent M2 to M3 events. The GPS receiver on the active spine shows steady westward motion at rate of about 30 cm/day, evidence of continued slow extrustion of dacitic lava. No changes in eruptive activity have been noted in the past 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:21 | Permalink

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 eastward to southeastward.

Recent observations: Clouds preclude visual observation of the volcano this morning. Background seismicity remains at low levels, punctuated by intermittent M2 to M3 events and some rockfalls. No significant changes in eruptive activity have been noted in the past 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:53 | Permalink

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 eastward.

Recent observations: Only the snow-clad lower flanks of the volcano are visible this morning in views from the VolcanoCam located at Johnston Ridge Observatory. Background seismicity remains at low levels, punctuated by intermittent M2 to M3 events and some rockfalls. No significant changes in eruptive activity have been noted in the past 24 hours.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 12:59 | Permalink