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July 1, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash. During such eruptions, changes in the level of activity can occur over days to months. The eruption could intensify suddenly or with little warning and produce explosions that cause hazardous conditions within several miles of the crater and farther downwind. Small lahars could suddenly descend the Toutle River if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow and ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS) but could pose a hazard along the river channel upstream.
- 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.
- Potential ash hazards to aviation: Under current eruptive conditions, small, short-lived explosions may produce ash clouds that exceed 30,000 feet in altitude. Ash from such events can travel 100 miles or more downwind.
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- Recent observations: The lava dome continues to grow accompanied by low rates of seismicity, deformation and volcanic gas emissions. The view from the JRO camera shows normal steaming from the lava dome and clouds just above the crater rim. As the weather warms through the week, we expect an increase in rock fall from the crater walls.
- *** This line included in daily update but excluded for rest of month on this page.
July 2, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift NNE.
- Recent observations: Seismicity is at or near normal recent levels. MSH is clear this morning, but may cloud up this afternoon. No fieldwork is planned for today. A media crew recording a podcast for MSH Institude successfully summited MSH on Saturday.
July 3, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift ENE.
- Recent observations: Weather today at MSH is Severe Clear. A light plume is blowing off to the NE. Seismicity is normal.
July 4, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift ENE.
- Recent observations: Clear, 4th-of-July day at MSH today, but no fireworks. Seismicity at normal levels.
July 5, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift NNE.
- Recent observations: MSH is clear and sunny today. Seismicity remains at levels typical of recent months.
July 6, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift ENE.
- Recent observations: Another perfect weather day at MSH. Volcano seismicity is at normal levels. Many glacier quakes can be seen on the crater stations.
July 7, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift ENE.
- Recent observations: Evidence from AFM stations, crater seismometers, and increased turbidity measured downstream in the Toutle suggest an abrupt but minor increase in water flow out of the crater between 6pm and 9pm local time on Friday July 6. AFM stations downstream at Hoala on the pumice plain and at Elk Rock did not register increases associated with this event. The AFM flow monitor at Loowit Falls shows that after 9pm water flow returned to near normal but at this hour still registers a slightly elevated flow volume, compared to levels before the event. The increased flow event may have been triggered by high summer temperatures affecting the crater glaciers. No explosion or large rockfall signal preceded the increased water flow. Seismicity remains at normal levels. The flow event registered on crater seismic stations as a number of subtle low-amplitude signals lasting several minutes between 6pm and 9pm local time.
July 8, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift ENE.
- Recent observations: MSH is cloudy this morning but the cloud cover will likely burn off by mid-day. Seismicity remains at levels typical throughout the last months. AFM flow monitors indicate that water flow out of the crater continues at the slightly elevated levels seen since the abrupt but small water flow event of friday evening (June 6, 6-9pm local time). No increase in flow levels is registered by the flow monitor on the pumice plain nor downstream at Elk Rock. Correction to yesterdays update: Yesterdays update incorrectly stated that no flow monitor downstream of the crater registered any increased flow. However, the small flow event of friday evening was instrumentally registered as a small increase in signal level at the flow monitor on the pumice plain. It was not registered at the Elk Rock monitor.
July 9, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift south.
- Recent observations: The eruption continues, as determined chiefly by low levels of seismicity that have characterized the past few months of lava dome growth. The heightened stream flow of this past weekend, likely a response to hot weather and glacial melt, has returned to normal levels. We have no new turbidity information.
July 10, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift west to southwest.
- Recent observations: The eruption continues, as determined chiefly by low levels of seismicity that have characterized the past few months of lava dome growth. Dust plumes from rockfall in the crater have left dark patches on snow on the flanks of the volcano. There has been no explosive activity. Seismometers in and near the crater recorded signals last Friday evening suggestive of a small flood or lahar, perhaps originating from the crater glacier. Field crews today will look for evidence of such an event.
July 11, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift westward.
- Recent observations: Slow dome growth continues. On Tuesday, field crews serviced time-lapse cameras and relocated a GPS spider on the lowest part of the west glacier arm, which is advancing and encroaching upon the Yellow Rock seismometer. This shift will provide a clearer sense of how soon the glacier is likely to cover the seismometer. Other crews took water samples from springs and looked for evidence that a small debris flow may have passed down Loowit channel last Friday night.
July 12, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift north-northwest.
- Recent observations: The eruption of a dacite dome continues, an assessment made largely on the basis of daily camera images spanning June 19 to July 10 and showing southward and westward displacement as the dome is fed internally by new hot lava. Short-term motion is slight, which makes daily assessments of eruptive activity at this sluggish dome increasingly difficult. But meters of steady persistent displacement can be tracked across 20 days time. Eruption-related seismicity is notably low, perhaps a half-dozen earthquakes in 24 hours. Most seismicity seen on crater stations is the periodic snapping of an unhappy glacier.
July 13, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift northerly.
- Recent observations: Volcanic-related earthquakes remain sparse on a seismic record dominated by glaciogenic events and small rockfall. River turbidity following last week\'s stream-bank slips in the upper North Fork Toutle headwaters at Mount St. Helens has diminished to a static level only somewhat above pre-slip levels. The JRO volcanocam has been skulking in fog since dawn today.
July 14, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift northerly in the morning, shifting to north-northeasterly by afternoon.
- Recent observations: The slow growth of the lava dome likely continues, on the basis of sparse volcanic-related seismicity and the time-lapse sequence of fixed-camera images this past week. Waveforms from in-crater seismometers are chiefly emergent in aspect, characteristic of rockfall and glacially induced seismic noise. The daily cyclic variation in real-time seismic amplitude measurements is also glaciogenic. The dome this morning sports its characteristic whitish weak steam and fume plume from the east summit of the active spine 7.
July 15, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift northeast.
- Recent observations: Volcanic-related earthquakes remain sparse on a seismic record dominated by small glacier-related earthquakes and rockfall. Records from time-lapse cameras on the volcano indicate continued slow dome growth.
July 16, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift northeast.
- Recent observations: The dome's active spine 7 grows sluggishly. Lacking a GPS receiver on the spine or fixed sites that might be surveyed, we track 7's incremental progress only by assembling sequential camera images into time-lapse sequences. Seismicity remains low, and yesterday's early-morning shallow M2.9 earthquake is now a fading highlight among the chatter of periodic rockfall and glaciogenic seismicity.
July 17, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift north-northeast.
- Recent observations: Weather at the volcano is surprisingly good this morning. Although the Portland-Vancouver area is receiving much needed rain, the view of Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge is clear. Time-lapse photos from an array of cameras at the volcano show that growth of the lava dome is continuing. Points on the active part of the dome moved away from the vent at an average rate of about 1.5 feet per day during the past few weeks. That rate is similar to but slightly less than it was about a year ago. There has been no change in the background level of seismicity, which is dominated by glacier quakes and rockfalls from the dome and surrounding crater walls.
July 18, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH ; Aviation Color Code ORANGE :
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any high-level ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift north and any low-level ash clouds would drift northeast.
- Recent observations: Views into the crater this morning are obscured by clouds. Scientists continue to monitor the slow rates of deformation and seismicity that accompany lava extrusion within the crater.
July 19, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift north or northeast.
- Recent observations: There has been no change in eruption indicators during the past 24 hours, so it it safe to assume that dome growth is continuing at about the same rate as in recent months. It's raining at the volcano this morning. No field work is planned until early next week.
July 20, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift north to northeast.
- Recent observations: Volcanic activity continues to register on the network of seismometers at the same intensity as recent days. Clouds block views into the crater. Almost an inch of rain fell from Wednesday through Thursday increasing stream flow and bedload in the Loowit Channel below the falls. Raised turbity levels were detected at points farther downstream.
July 21, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift northeast.
- Recent observations: Rain and clouds continue to block the crater from view. Extrusion of a lava dome continues.
July 22, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift northeast.
- Recent observations: The volcano is obscured by clouds this morning. There has been no change in seismicity or other monitored eruption indicators. Lava dome growth continues.
July 23, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift northeast.
- Recent observations: There has been no change in the pattern of slow dome growth. Field crews plan to visit the volcano when weather allows to make routine observations and to service monitoring stations.
July 24, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift toward the northeast.
- Recent observations: Despite the improving weather in nearby Portland, the Mount St. Helens crater remains shrouded in clouds. Seismicity remains normal. Scientists are currently in the St. Helens crater conducting geophysical surveys that will improve our understanding of subsurface structure.
July 25, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift east-northeastward.
- Recent observations: Seismicity and deformation, which have accompanied lava dome extrusion, remain at low levels. The picture from the USFS' camera at JRO shows conditions at the volcano today to be clear and sunny. With dry, warm weather in the forecast, wind at the volcano may resuspend ash into the atmosphere.
July 26, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift toward the northeast.
- Recent observations: Despite cloudy weather in the Portland area, Mount St. Helens enjoys sunny skies at this hour. Small glacier quake and rockfall events, typical of a summer day, dominate the seismicity. There is no unusual activity at the mountain.
July 27, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift to the northeast.
- Recent observations: Despite cloud cover in nearby lowlands, Mount St. Helens is bathed in brilliant sunshine this morning. Levels of seismicity remain low, and the ongoing eruption continues in the same quiet fashion typical of recent months.
July 28, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift to the northeast.
- Recent observations: Clear skies afford excellent views of Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge Observatory again this morning. Levels of seismicity remain low, and the ongoing eruption continues in the same quiet fashion typical of recent months.
July 29, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift to the northeast.
- Recent observations: Clouds obscure the edifice above the pumice plain this morning. The eruption continues and is accompanied by low rates of seismicity and deformation. CVO field crews did not visit the volcano on Friday as planned due to lack of helicopter availability.
July 30, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift to the northeast.
- Recent observations: Weather is clear at the volcano today. The extrusion appears to be continuing with low rates of seismicity and deformation as has been the case for the past many months.
July 31, 2007:
- Current Volcanic- Alert Level WATCH; Aviation Color Code ORANGE:
- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
- Wind forecasts show that any ash clouds rising above the crater rim today would drift east.
- Recent observations: Mount St. Helens is sunny and bright today. Continued low levels of seismicity indicate that slow dome growth within the crater is ongoing.
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