Strong winds in the Pacific Northwest stirred up decades-old ash from Mount St. Helens' 1980 eruption, creating a smoky haze around the volcano. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Weather Service confirmed that this was not a new eruption, but rather the resuspension of existing ash. While no alert changes were issued, the USGS warned that the ash could pose a hazard to aircraft and public health. The event served as a reminder of the volcano's powerful past eruption, the largest in thousands of years.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.