Here is the bulge right before it blew. It was taken by Peter Lipman on 27 April 1980. According to here:
A "bulge" developed on the north side of Mount St. Helens as magma pushed up within the peak. Angle and slope-distance measurements to the bulge indicated it was growing at a rate of up to five feet (1.5 meters) per day. By May 17, part of the volcano's north side had been pushed upwards and outwards over 450 feet (135 meters). The view is from the northeast.
Edit: And here it is rebuilding itself from 2004 to 2008.
Edit 2: For those having trouble view the rebuilding on mobile, here is the source video.
"Another victim of the eruption was 30-year-old volcanologist David A. Johnston, who was stationed on the nearby Coldwater Ridge. Moments before his position was hit by the pyroclastic flow, Johnston radioed his famous last words: "Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!" Johnston's body was never found."
I remember looking out my window on May 18, 1980, and my jaw dropping. I had just turned 10. My mom was home, I showed her... Our street was on a hill, so we went outside, and a crowd was a gathering at the top. Nobody spoke much, it was surreal. Subsequently, we were all glued to the news once coverage caught up. Soon it was pitch black - constant night - and everything became covered with a fine grey ash. We bought and wore breathing masks when outside. Crazy days...and that was all in north Portland, OR.
Spartan2470 on June 7th, 2017 at 12:50 UTC »
Here is the bulge right before it blew. It was taken by Peter Lipman on 27 April 1980. According to here:
Edit: And here it is rebuilding itself from 2004 to 2008.
Edit 2: For those having trouble view the rebuilding on mobile, here is the source video.
VTPunk on June 7th, 2017 at 13:58 UTC »
"Another victim of the eruption was 30-year-old volcanologist David A. Johnston, who was stationed on the nearby Coldwater Ridge. Moments before his position was hit by the pyroclastic flow, Johnston radioed his famous last words: "Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!" Johnston's body was never found."
Cerimo on June 7th, 2017 at 14:02 UTC »
I remember looking out my window on May 18, 1980, and my jaw dropping. I had just turned 10. My mom was home, I showed her... Our street was on a hill, so we went outside, and a crowd was a gathering at the top. Nobody spoke much, it was surreal. Subsequently, we were all glued to the news once coverage caught up. Soon it was pitch black - constant night - and everything became covered with a fine grey ash. We bought and wore breathing masks when outside. Crazy days...and that was all in north Portland, OR.