USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-CVO-2026-10-15T19:09:28+00:00

CVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Mount St. Helens (VNUM #321050)

Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

Issued: Thursday, October 15, 2026, 1:01 PM PDT
Source: Cascades Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/C47
Location: N 46 deg 12 min W 122 deg 10 min
Elevation: 8363 ft (2549 m)
Area: Washington

Summary: Resuspended ash observed from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Aviation color code and alert level remain at GREEN/NORMAL

Volcanic Activity:

Strong southeasterly winds in the vicinity of Mount St. Helens have picked up loose volcanic ash erupted during the 1980 eruptions of Mount St. Helens and are carrying it to the northwest. The National Weather Service has issued a CWA for the low-level event and suggests that the maximum cloud height is 12,000 ft (3,658 m) above sea level. The National Weather Service expects strong southeasterly wind conditions to continue for several hours.

This phenomenon is not the result of recent volcanic activity and occurs during times of high winds and dry snow-free conditions in the Mount St. Helens region. No eruption is in progress and Mount St. Helens remains at Aviation Color Code Green and Volcano Alert Level Normal. Resuspended volcanic ash should be considered hazardous and could be damaging to aircraft and health.

For more information on volcanic ash and human health, visit the following website: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ash/

Official warnings about these ash resuspension events are issued by the National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/sew/ & https://www.weather.gov/pqr & https://www.weather.gov/zse.

Forecasts of airborne ash hazard to aircraft: https://www.weather.gov/aviation/awc. Volcanic Ash Advisories: https://www.weather.gov/vaac/

Forecasts of ashfall: http://www.weather.gov/afc

Contacts:

Seth Moran, Acting Scientist-in-Charge, Cascades Volcano Observatory, smoran@usgs.gov

General inquiries: askCVO@usgs.gov

Media inquiries: volcanomedia@usgs.gov

VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA)

WMUS01 KVWA 152001
VONA
DTG: 20261015/2001Z
VOLCANO: MOUNT ST. HELENS 321050
PSN: N4612 W12211
AREA: WASHINGTON
SOURCE ELEV: 8363FT AMSL
NOTICE NR: 2026/01
CURRENT COLOUR CODE: GREEN
PREVIOUS COLOUR CODE: GREEN
SVO: CASCADES VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
ACT STS: RE-SUSPENDED VA
ONSET: NIL
DUR: NIL
VA CLD HGT: 12000FT AMSL
HGT SOURCE: WEBCAM
MOV: NW
CTC: TYLER PALADINO (+1-530-414-3221) OR CVO DUTY SCIENTIST (+1 360-601-1628)
RMK: NO ERUPTION. RESUSPENDED VA DUE TO GROUND LEVEL HIGH WINDS IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF MOUNT ST HELENS
NXT NOTICE: A NEW VONA WILL BE ISSUED IF COND CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OR IF THE COLOR CODE CHANGES
NNNN