Calendar

Science-related events in the Pacific Northwest

Submit an event to the calendar

Category: General Experts on hand at Mount St. Helens for eruption anniversary

10:00 am
May 18, 2024

Science and Learning Center at Coldwater

Registration page: Experts on hand at Mount St. Helens for eruption anniversary


Volcano Awareness Month also includes watching movies, online discussions

Scientists and preparedness experts will be on hand May 18, 2024, at the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater to commemorate the tragic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. It’s just one of several events taking place between the Washington Emergency Management Division and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cascades Volcano Observatory in May for Volcano Awareness Month, which includes lectures, watching a movie together and an online question and answer session on Reddit.

The month of May is chosen each year to be Volcano Awareness Month in Washington to commemorate the tragic eruption of Mount St. Helens that killed 57 people, spewing forth 540 million tons of ash and changing our understanding of Washington volcanoes forever.

Typically, the public would be invited to Johnston Ridge Observatory with a great view of the Mount St. Helens lava dome. But the observatory and Highway 504 at Mile Post 45.2 are both closed after a landslide caused catastrophic damage to a nearby bridge. WSDOT says on its construction project website that permanent access will not be restored for public or administrative use at least until the latter part of 2026. And even after that, it will take time for the observatory to re-open.

However, the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater is open with scientists and preparedness experts available to talk about the volcano from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 18, 2024. This facility is located at milepost 43 on State Highway 504. The address is 19000 Spirit Lake Hwy, Toutle, WA.


Please note: NSWA provides these event details as a courtesy to science-related organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Please confirm event details with the sponsoring organization before attending.