A webcam image shows Mount St. Helens on Sept. 16, 2025. Ash was spotted by commercial pilots in the vicinity of the mountain.

Folks in the Northwest shouldn't panic: Mount St. Helens is NOT erupting, government scientists said on Sept. 16.

The concern arises because commercial pilots reported seeing ash in the vicinity of the mountain, site of the infamous eruption of May 18, 1980, that killed 57 people.

So what's going on? "Volcanic ash from the 1980s is being lofted back into the air from the strong east winds," the National Weather Service in Portland, Oregon, reported.

Is Mount St. Helens erupting?

The mountain is not erupting.

According to a statement from the U.S. Geological Survey, "strong easterly–southeasterly winds in the vicinity of Mount St. Helens have picked up loose volcanic ash deposited during the 1980 eruptions and are carrying it to the west–northwest. The resuspended ash has been reported by commercial pilots in the area."

"This phenomenon is not the result of recent volcanic activity and occasionally occurs during times of high winds and dry, snow-free conditions in the Mount St. Helens area. No eruption is in progress and Mount St. Helens remains at Aviation Color Code GREEN and Alert Level NORMAL."

"Resuspended volcanic ash should be considered hazardous and could be damaging to aircraft and health," the U.S. Geological Survey said.

When did Mount St. Helens erupt?

On May 18, 1980, the United States experienced the deadliest and most destructive volcanic eruption in its history. After more than two months of rumbling, Washington state's Mount St. Helens erupted with a force equivalent to as much as 50 megatons of TNT.

The massive blast and subsequent landslides, flooding and ash cloud killed 57 people, caused more than $1 billion in damage and destroyed at least 200 homes, and was heard more than 200 miles away.

The resulting scorching ash cloud reached as high as 16 miles into the atmosphere, darkening the sky and causing homes and businesses as far as 300 miles away to close. A massive wave of melted snow, ice, ash and pumice raced down the sides of the mountain, reaching up to 60 miles away and crushing homes, forests, bridges and roadways in its path.

Contributing: Beth Weise

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ash in the sky near Mount St. Helens sparks concern but isn't an eruption

Reporting by Doyle Rice, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect