Dr. M. Mustoe
5:08 PM October 1 2004
| "Shortly before noon today, Mount St. Helens emitted a plume of steam and minor ash from an area of new crevasses in the crater glacier south of the 1980-86 lava dome. This area was described in the prior Information Statement issued at 12:45 P.M. The event lasted from 11:57 to 12:21 PDT and created a pale-gray cloud that reached an altitude of about 9700 ft (from pilot reports). It drifted southwestward, where nearby residents should receive no more than a minor dusting of ash. USGS scientists making thermal measurements witnessed the emission and noted that the clouds were not particularly hot. Blocks of rock and ice ejected by the event fell in the crater and rim areas. The emission was accompanied by an abrupt drop in seismicity, which remains at low levels. Similar events are possible in the future. We will monitor the situation closely over the next several hours and days in order to determine the outlook for future behavior. Additional updates will be issued as needed." 1 October 2004 usgs |
