The day the sky darkened: Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington State 45 years ago

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The day the sky darkened: Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington State 45 years ago

On May 18, 1980, the United States experienced the deadliest and most destructive volcanic eruption in its history. After more than two months of rumbling, Washington State's Mount St. Helens erupted with a force equivalent to as much as 50 megatons of TNT.The massive blast and subsequent landslides, flooding and ash cloud killed 57 people, caused more than $1 billion in damages, destroyed at least 200 homes and was heard more than 200 miles away.The resulting scorching ash cloud reached as high as 16 miles into the atmosphere, darkening the sky and causing homes and businesses as much as 300 ..