Mount St Helens: Before and after in photos

Mount St Helens, located in southwestern Washington, was once a majestic symmetrical cone towering at 9,600 feet above sea level. However, everything changed on May 18, 1980, when the volcano unleashed a catastrophic eruption, leaving a horseshoe-shaped crater and a barren wasteland. This historic event, considered the most disastrous volcanic eruption in United States history, forever altered the landscape and had a significant impact on the surrounding environment and communities.

Contents Hide

I. Pre-eruption signs

II. The eruption begins

III. It was devastating!

IV. Immediate aftermath

V. Environmental impact

VI. Impact on communities

VII. Lessons learned and ongoing monitoring

VIII. Final words

Pre-eruption signs

Mount St. Helens (elovation 9,670 ft.) from Spirit Lake. The glaciars and snowfields regulate the stream flow of the Toutle, Kalamuna and Lewis rivers. Copyright by Anahel Curtis — Mount St. Helens MSH82 (elovation 9,670 ft.) from Spirit Lake. The glaciers and snowfields regulate the stream flow of the Toutle, Kalamuna and Lewis rivers. Copyright by Anahel Curtis

In the months leading up to the eruption, Mount St Helens exhibited several warning signs of an impending disaster. A series of earthquakes and steam-venting episodes occurred, caused by the injection of magma at shallow depths below the volcano. This activity created a large bulge and a fracture system on the mountain’s north slope. Geologists and volcanologists closely monitored these seismic activities, trying to predict the volcano’s behavior.

The eruption begins

Aerial view of the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens as seen from the southwest. Columns of ash and volcanic gas reached heights of more than 24 km (80,000 ft) during the eruption. USGS.GOV

On March 27, 1980, after weeks of increasing seismic activity, Mount St Helens produced its first eruption in over 100 years. Steam explosions blasted a crater through the volcano’s summit ice cap, covering the surrounding area with dark ash. The eruption intensified over the following weeks, with the crater growing larger and two giant crack systems appearing on the summit area.

It was devastating!

Plumes of steam, gas, and ash often occurred at Mount St. Helens in the early 1980s. On clear days they could be seen from Portland, Oregon, 50 mi (80 km) to the south. The plume photographed here rose nearly 3,000 ft (910 m) above the volcano's rim. The view is from Harrys Ridge, 5 mi (8 km) north of the mountain. — Plumes of steam, gas, and ash often occurred at Mount St. Helens in the early 1980s. On clear days they could be seen from Portland, Oregon, 50 mi (80 km) to the south. The plume photographed here rose nearly 3,000 ft (910 m) above the volcano’s rim. The view is from Harrys Ridge, 5 mi (8 km) north of the mountain. Wikimedia Commons

The fateful morning of May 18, 1980, dawned warm and sunny in southwestern Washington. At 8:32 a.m., seismic instruments in the area detected intense shaking. USGS geologists stationed in Vancouver witnessed the seismic activity and realized that something catastrophic was happening at Mount St Helens. They quickly mobilized to gather data and assess the situation.

A fire-spotter plane was dispatched to investigate, and what the crew saw was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The volcano’s top had been completely blown off, replaced by a gray columnar cloud that reached a staggering height of over 80,000 feet. Within the cloud, lightning flashed, and the margin of the column was composed of convecting cells. Pyroclastic flows were observed moving northward, causing further destruction in their path.

Immediate aftermath

The immediate aftermath of the eruption was chaotic and devastating. The ash column darkened and intensified, spreading ash and volcanic gas across a wide area. The Toutle River valley experienced massive mudflows, known as lahars, as snow and ice on the volcano melted rapidly. These lahars reached as far as the Columbia River, causing extensive damage and altering the landscape.

On May 17, 1980, vulcanologist David Johnston sits at Coldwater II camp near Mt. St. Helens. At 8:32 AM the next morning, Johnston radioed a message to the USGS headquarters: “Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it!” Johnston did not survive the eruption. Coldwater II was later re-named “Johnston Ridge” in honor of Johnston. Wikimedia Commons

Tragically, the eruption claimed the lives of 57 people, including geologist David A. Johnston who was stationed at Coldwater 2, an observation post near the volcano. Johnston’s final moments were captured in a radio transmission he made just before the eruption engulfed him. The eruption also caused billions of dollars in damage, destroyed thousands of acres of land, and left a massive crater on the north side of Mount St Helens.

Environmental impact

The environmental impact of the Mount St Helens eruption was profound and far-reaching. The blast and subsequent pyroclastic flows stripped vegetation from the landscape, leaving behind a barren wasteland. Entire forests were flattened, and over four billion board feet of timber were destroyed. The lahars that flowed down the Toutle River valley carried massive amounts of sediment, burying entire ecosystems and altering river channels.

Despite the devastation, life began to slowly return to the area. Within a few years, plants colonized the barren land, and animals started to repopulate the region. Scientists closely monitored the recovery, studying the resilience of nature and the processes of ecological succession. Today, the area is designated as the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument, serving as a living laboratory for researchers studying the long-term effects of volcanic eruptions.

Impact on communities

The eruption of Mount St Helens had a profound impact on the surrounding communities. Towns and cities were covered in thick layers of ash, causing widespread disruption and health hazards. The ashfall damaged crops, contaminated water supplies, and disrupted transportation systems. Residents had to wear masks to protect themselves from the fine particles, and cleanup efforts took months, if not years, to complete.

The eruption also led to changes in land ownership. Prior to the eruption, the summit of Mount St Helens was owned by the Burlington Northern Railroad. However, after the eruption, the land was transferred to the United States Forest Service, which later established the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument to preserve and study the area.

Lessons learned and ongoing monitoring

Mount St. Helens, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 2015, Cascade Range, Extreme Terrain — Mount St. Helens, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 2015, from Cascade Range, Extreme Terrain. iStock

The eruption of Mount St Helens served as a wake-up call for the scientific community and the public. It highlighted the importance of monitoring and studying volcanoes to better understand their behavior and mitigate the risks associated with volcanic eruptions. Today, advancements in technology allow scientists to closely monitor volcanic activity, providing early warning systems and valuable data for eruption predictions.

A satellite image of Mount St Helens taken by NASA on April 20, 2015. Earth Observatory

This visualization, based on digital elevation models from the U.S. Geological Survey, shows the elevation of the volcano’s summit before and after the blast. Earth Observatory

Satellites in orbit and scientists on the ground continue to monitor Mount St Helens, tracking its ongoing recovery and any signs of future volcanic activity. The knowledge gained from studying Mount St Helens has not only improved our understanding of volcanic processes but has also contributed to the development of strategies for mitigating the impacts of volcanic eruptions worldwide.

Final words

Spirit Lake with Mount St. Helens in the background, 1936. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Mount St Helens and Spirit Lake. 25 August 2005, 07:23 AM. Wikimedia Commons

The eruption of Mount St Helens on May 18, 1980, forever changed the face of the famous volcanic peak. What was once a snow-capped beauty became a smoldering crater and a symbol of both destruction and resilience. The event taught us valuable lessons about the power of nature and the importance of preparedness. Today, Mount St Helens stands as a reminder of the ongoing forces shaping our planet and the need for continued scientific inquiry and vigilance in the face of volcanic activity.