Mount St Helens Eruption

30 years ago, I was a student at Washington State University. I was working at my part time job at Radio Station KNOI, when I heard on our news feed that Mt. St Helens had erupted. Mt St Helens had been in the news lately, having a few minor flare-ups so I really paid little attention.
The sky began to darken, I thought that clouds were coming in, it got darker and darker untill all of a sudden, it was like nighttime at 5:00! Then the ash came down like snowfall. Only ash does not melt away.