Mount St Helens rumbles in US

A 3.1-magnitude earthquake shook the crater at Mount St Helens yesterday, the strongest quake at the volcano since mid-October.

US Geological Survey scientists said they did not believe a major eruption was imminent – just a continuation of the minor ash and steam eruptions that have been occurring since the mountain reawakened this autumn.

The earthquake appeared to be a larger version of the small earthquakes scientists have registered about once a minute for the past several weeks, the USGS said in a news release.

Scientists hoped good weather today and tomorrow would allow them to get a better look at the volcano.