when was the last volcano eruption in washington

The last volcanic eruption in Washington was at Mount St. Helens, which last erupted in 2004–2008, with the eruption sequence ending in 2008. The iconic major eruption people usually mean, though, is the catastrophic May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption.

Quick Scoop

• Most recent eruption period: Mount St. Helens, 2004–2008.

• Most famous Washington eruption: Mount St. Helens, May 18, 1980.

• Why both answers appear: some sources count the 2004–2008 eruption episode as the last one, while others refer to the 1980 event because it was the major historic eruption.

Context

Washington still has active volcanoes, including Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, but no eruption is currently underway. Recent reporting has focused more on seismic activity near Mount Rainier than on an actual eruption.