Volcano poised to erupt

SEATTLE - Government scientists raised the alert level Saturday for Mount St. Helens after its second steam eruption in two days was followed by a powerful tremor. They said the next eruption was imminent or in progress.

Hundreds of visitors at the building closest to the volcano - Johnston Ridge Observatory 5 miles away - were asked to leave. They went quickly to their cars and drove away, with some relocating several miles north to Coldwater Ridge Visitors Center, which officials said was safe.

The volcano alert of Mount St. Helens was raised to Level 3, which "indicates we feel an eruption is imminent, or is in progress," said U.S. Geological Survey geologist Tom Pierson from the observatory. He said Saturday afternoon that an explosion probably would happen within the next 24 hours.

Pierson said the volcano has released more seismic energy since quake activity began Sept. 23 than it has since its devastating May 18, 1980, eruption, which killed 57 people. Scientists expect the impending eruption to be much smaller than in 1980.

A day after the volcano spewed a plume of steam and ash thousands of feet into the air, there was a very brief steam release Saturday - a puff of white cloud, followed by a dust-raising landslide in the crater. A volcanic tremor signal that came next was what prompted the heightened alert level.

HURRICANE LISA: Tropical Storm Lisa briefly became a hurricane Saturday before weakening as it moved over colder water in the northern Atlantic. Forecasters said it did not threaten land.

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