Volcano

Mount Saint Helens as viewed from the west side, two days before the first visible volcanic activity. Credit: Dept. of Natural Resources, State of Washington

There are 5 active volcanoes in Washington:
Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Glacier Peak, Mt. Baker, and Mt. Adams.

Mt. Rainier presents the greatest hazard to a major population center. It is in west-central Washington about two hours driving time from Seattle. It is surrounded by a circle of other cities at approximately the same distance.

"The potential hazards posed by Mount Rainier led to its inclusion as one of sixteen volcanoes worldwide to be designated Decade Volcanoes. The Decade Volcano initiative is part of a United Nations program aimed at better utilizing science and emergency management to reduce the severity of natural disasters. The Decade Volcanoes are the focus of coordinated earth-science studies and land-use planning to learn the best ways to reduce the risks to life and property from volcano-related hazards. Products from Decade Volcano studies at Mount Rainier will include updated maps showing the areas and levels of hazards, maps showing the locations and ages of Rainier's lavas and debris flow deposits, and reports on the style and size of selected eruptions and on the structure and makeup of the rocks forming Mount Rainier and its underpinnings."
-- From: Volcano Hazards Fact Sheet: History and Hazards of Mount Rainier, Washington (From: Sisson, USGS Open-File Report 95-642)

Mt. St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, killing 57 people. It blanketed Eastern Washington with ash and caused extensive problems in other areas. It is the youngest of the major Cascade volcanoes. View this additional information about the Mt. St. Helens eruption.

Active and Potentially Active Volcanoes in Washington State

Mount Saint Helens during eruption. Credit: Dept. of Natural Resources, State of Washington

 

Mount Adams

Eruption Type: Lava, ash
Number of Eruptions: 0 in the past 200 years
Latest Activity: More than 3,500 years ago
Remarks: Debris flows are the most recent events

Mount Baker

Eruption Type: Ash, lava
Number of Eruptions: 1 in the past 200 years
Latest Activity: 1870
Remarks: Increased heat output and minor melting of summit glacier in 1975; some debris flows not related to eruption. History of extensive pyroclastic flows

Glacier Peak

Eruption Type: Ash
Number of Eruptions: (more than?) 1 in the past 200 years
Latest Activity: Before 1800

Mount Rainier

Eruption Type: Ash, lava
Number of Eruptions: 1(?) in the past 200 years
Latest Activity: 1882
Remarks: History of massive debris avalanches and debris flows. Occasional very shallow seismicity

Mount St. Helens

Eruption Type: Ash, Lava, Dome
Number of Eruptions: 2-3 in the past 200 years
Latest Activity: 1980 to present
Remarks: Continuing intermittent volcanic activity

-- From: Wright and Pierson, 1992, Living with Volcanoes, The U.S.Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program: USGS Circular 1073, 57p

 

 

 

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