At 3:00PM PDT on September 26 the US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory issued a Notice of Volcanic Unrest for Mt. St. Helens. This advisory was issued because of pattern of earthquakes that are consistent with movement of magma within the volcano.

A swarm of very small, shallow earthquakes that began on the morning of September 23, peaked on September 24, then subsided on Saturday morning, and it was initially thought that they might be due to rainwater seeping into hot areas within the volcano.

Since then, however, the swarm has change to include more than ten large earthquakes, the most in a 24-hour period since the October, 1986 eruption. These quakes are of a type that suggests the involvement of pressurized water and steam, and possibly magma.

The USGS said that "several causes are possible, but most point toward an increased probability of explosions from the lava dome if the level of current unrest continues or escalates."

There may be much healing needed soon.