I know I've probably been posting too many entries regarding Mount St. Helens but it's big news around here and I just can't help myself.
Today was the biggest blast yet and you can read the full story here. Scientists are still holding to this idea that it won't be anything like the 1980 eruption. After reading this and many other articles I have come to the conclusion that they really have no idea how big the blast is going to be. All of the quotes below are from the same article. Notice all of the contradictions.
“Scientists have said a larger eruption is likely, but there was hardly any chance of a repeat of the mountain’s lethal 1980 explosion.“
“We could have a much larger event, essentially at any moment,” U.S. Geological Survey geologist Willie Scott said.“
“Even in the event of a larger eruption, scientists said there was hardly any chance of a repeat of the mountain’s lethal 1980 explosion or of Hawaiian-style lava flows.“
“The eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 killed 57 people, destroyed more than 200 homes and flattened acres of evergreen spruce forest. But experts say they do not believe that the mountain will erupt with anywhere near as much force this time around.“
“But as time passed, others cautioned Monday that volcanic activity was difficult to predict.“
“Right now, we’re thinking it’s about a 70 percent chance that it will erupt and a 30 percent chance that it just might go back to sleep.“
“Scientists were unsure how explosive the eruption may be.“