Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980
The volcano blew off 1300 feet of the mountain’s peak.
MONROE, La. (KNOE) - The event scientists had been predicting for three months finally happened on May 18, 1980. Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980 at 8:32 a.m.
The eruption sent ash at least 70,000 feet. More than 150 square miles around the mountain were hit with hot gasses, pumice, and ash.
More than thirteen hundred square feet of the mountain’s peak was blown off. The blast was felt up to 260 miles away.
The scientists had been studying the intense volcanic activity under the surface for two months. A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck on the morning of the eruption, triggering the volcanic blast.
57 people died during the explosion and subsequent damage.
It severely damaged 61,200 acres of National Forest and 89,400 acres owned by the State of Washington and private landowners. Damages included 100 miles of streams, 2300 big game animals, 27 recreation sites, 63 miles of road, 13 bridges, 197 miles of trails, and 15 Forest Service Buildings.
The estimated resource loss totaled $134,087,000.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
