Mount St. Helens, located in southwestern Washington State, erupted on May 18, 1980 at 8:32 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Before the eruption, the elevation of the volcano had been 9,677 feet. Afterward, it was 8,363 feet, having lost 1,314 feet in elevation. The explosion blew out the northwest side of the mountain and pulverized about a third of the volcano, which turned into mud and ash. The ash cloud blackened the sky as it traveled eastward, leaving detectable amounts of ash over an area of 22,000 square miles. The ash cloud reached a height of about 80,000 feet in less than 15 minutes after the eruption. It spread across the U.S. in 3 days and circled the globe in 15 days. In all, 1.4 billion cubic yards of ash were thrown into the air by the eruption of Mount St. Helens.
See pages of this guide for videos, photos, books, government documents, and more about the topic of WSA's 2025 Summer All-School Read: the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980.
Before the Blast - A photo gallery showing pre-eruption Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake and information on the pre-eruptive history of the mountain
May 18, 1980 - A photo gallery, videos, books, an ArcGIS Storymap, a HistoryLink.org essay, and a report from the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program
Eyewitness Accounts - Books and videos that tell the stories of those who were there that day
Epilogue: After the Eruption - Books, videos, and a photo gallery that tell the story of Mount St. Helens, in the years after the blast
Other Resources - Links to websites, online photo galleries, articles, and oral history interviews
Summer Reading 2025: Remembering Mount St. Helens invites the entire West Sound Academy community—students, faculty, and staff—to embark on a shared journey of discovery this summer through Mountain of Fire: The Eruption and Survivors of Mount St. Helens by Rebecca E.F. Barone. This is the narrative nonfiction account of the violent volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, the stories of the people who died, those who survived, and the heroes who fought to raise an alarm. The author uncovers the resilience of those who lived through the historic 1980 eruption and delves into the power of nature’s forces.
We are encouraging students and staff to connect with family and friends who experienced the event firsthand. Collect their stories and photos over the summer, and share them with your class on the first day of school.
Need some ideas for questions to ask, or how to go about doing an interview? Check out our Interview Tips below!
(3:47) On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens became the largest and most destructive volcanic eruption in U.S. history. By the end of its cycle of fire and fury, 57 people had died. From the series: Make It Out Alive
(2:29) Mount St. Helens sits quietly now, but her legacy is one of devastating destruction. From Aerial America: Washington
On September 5, 2025, West Sound Academy will welcome Mike Nesteroff, an environmental lawyer and senior counsel at Ballard Spahr. Before he began his legal career, Mike was a general assignment reporter for KOMO TV, Channel 4, the ABC affiliate in Seattle.
I had been inside working as an assignment editor for three years when they promoted me to reporter in October 1979. As one of the newest reporters, I worked Sunday through Thursday and, as it happened, the mountain blew on a Sunday morning right before I got to work that day. I spent the next week flying around in the helicopter and also driving around the back roads in a borrowed Ford Pinto to cover the aftermath of the eruption.
Mike will share photos, videos and stories from his time covering the story of the Mount St. Helens eruption at an all-school assembly. This year marks 45 years since the eruption, and Mike will help bring the science and history of this event to life for our West Sound Academy students and staff.
(49:49) Watch the KOMO News broadcast on the day of the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. The segment with news reporter Mike Nesteroff is 28:21 through 33:37.
Susan Trower - she/her/hers
Contact:
West Sound Academy
16571 Creative Drive NE
Poulsbo, WA 98370
360-598-5954
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