Is Mount Rainier venting? Scientists say no
Exciting video from Chopper 7 shows the appearance of venting at Mount Rainier on Wednesday morning.
Video from the volcano initially showed what appeared as a single vent of steam rising from the volcano, and within an hour a significant amount of white clouds gathered at the peak.
According to USGS Volcanoes, the behavior is not unusual.
Mount Rainier is not erupting - the sort of behavior seen in this video is not unusual.
And in fact there are a number of USGS volcanologists at the volcano this week working on installing new monitoring equipment, so Cascades Volcano Observatory folks are on site to confirm!— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) September 7, 2022
The team at Mt. Rainier said it is not steam, but a cloud and they wanted to assure the public the volcano is not erupting.
According to NPS.gov, a new vent has not opened on the volcano. Data is not showing any unusual activity, and scientists are saying it is a lenticular cloud.
A lenticular cloud is formed when moist air is pushed up over the top of the mountain, forming a disc shaped cloud.
The Mount Rainier seismic network also shows no signs of unrest.
Mount Rainier geologists join with USGS in assuring the public that Mount Rainier is not erupting. -pw https://t.co/uLiJDbgT4X
— MountRainierNPS (@MountRainierNPS) September 7, 2022
Mount Rainier is NOT erupting. We have looked at the cloud that has caused concern from multiple webcams and have determined that it is a lenticular cloud. In addition, the USGS reports no indications of unusual seismic activity. ~pw
— MountRainierNPS (@MountRainierNPS) September 7, 2022
There is a cloud on the top of #MountRainier.
It's not erupting or venting. @MountRainierNPS https://t.co/kDN3YLJPdX#lenticularcloud pic.twitter.com/89iWukqxJQ— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) September 7, 2022
Mt. St. Helens just sitting there today, like, all y’all freaking out about clouds around Mount Rainier when St. Helens’ track record shows it has a much more likely chance of erupting again. We do have five active volcanoes in this state. pic.twitter.com/7cl3MMhWYd
— WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) September 7, 2022