posted on Oct, 29 2004 @ 11:55 PM
As of Thursday
Lava:
Mt. St. Helens is on cruise control, with lava steadily fashioning its new lava dome without explosive outbursts. The dome is more than 900 feet long.
250 feet wide and 230 feet high.
Seismic activity:
Earthquakes remain at a low level, indicating the volcano's magma chamber is not repressurizing.
Viewing:
Clouds obscured views Thursday and are expected to do so for several days. (A clear evening arial view, few days ago, over the mountain showed orange
glowing magma flows around the new crater dome. Sensors read 1400 degrees Fahrenheit.)
Developments:
A steam plume rising from the hot dome-caused by condensation of moisture in the cold air, not a release from a vent- soared about 2000 feet above the
volcano's rim Wednesday, the first time the mountain had been visible in three days.