Stuart CelarierMay 18

OTD 45 years ago, at 8:32 AM, Mt. St. Helens erupted, displacing a cubic mile of debris, killing 57 people, darkening skies, and raining ash on 11 states.

I was camping with my girlfriend about 150 miles away in the Three Sisters Wilderness and we heard the blast. We heard a second big boom as it echoed off Mt. Jefferson or Mt. Washington. We got back to Portland in the mid afternoon in time to see the huge plume of ash trailing off as far as the eye could see.

Where were you?

Show threadChris DelucaMay 18
@VisualStuart @wendinoakland This photo was taken by my friends dad that same day.
Show threadDave VolekMay 18

@chris @VisualStuart @wendinoakland

I was living in Edmonton. I don't recall any physical changes. My parents were in southern Alberta and reported extra dust and slightly darker skies.

Show threadKatzedecimalMay 18
@davevolek
In Calgary there was a grey stream of ash, high up, like a mare's-tail cloud, stretching across the sky
@chris @VisualStuart @wendinoakland
Show threadStuart Celarier
@Katzedecimal @davevolek @chris @wendinoakland Whoa, I didn't know that!
May 19 at 1:16amWeb