Mount Rainier Volcanic Hazard Information

General Information Product 265
By: , and 

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Introduction 

Eruptions at Mount Rainier produce lava flows, plumes of airborne volcanic ash, and avalanches of hot rock, ash, and gas—pyroclastic flows—that rush down the steep, ice-covered slopes of the volcano. Hot rock and ash ejected during an eruption can melt large quantities of snow and ice, forming huge, fast moving mudflows called lahars that travel 30+ miles, all the way to Puget Sound. Very large lahars can also form when weak and water-saturated rock high on the volcano collapses with or without volcanic activity. Learn more inside!

Suggested Citation

Weiss-Racine, H.F., Bard, J.A., Ball, J.L, and Mastin, C.L., 2026, Mount Rainier volcanic hazard information: U.S. Geological Survey General Information Product 265, https://doi.org/10.3133/gip265.

ISSN: 2332-354X (online)

ISSN: 2332-3531 (print)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Mount Rainier volcanic hazard information
Series title General Information Product
Series number 265
ISBN 978-1-4113-4657-4
DOI 10.3133/gip265
Publication Date April 14, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Volcano Science Center
Description 2 p.
Country United States
State Washington
Other Geospatial Mount Rainier
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details