A plume of ash over Mount St. Helens on Tuesday caused brief alarm, resembling a volcanic eruption. However, the US Geological Survey (USGS) clarified it was wind-blown ash from the 1980 eruption, not renewed volcanic activity. Strong easterly winds lifted old ash deposits thousands of feet into the air. The volcano's alert level remains green, indicating normal activity. While ash caused reduced visibility and potential air quality issues, no significant hazards resulted from this event.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.