Volcano Mount Rainier
By many assessments the most dangerous volcano in the United States: an ice-clad stratovolcano within sight of Seattle and Tacoma. The main threat is not lava but lahars; past mudflows reached ground where tens of thousands of people now live, and the valleys below have lahar sirens and evacuation routes.
Last eruption
1450
Historical eruption
Summit
4.4 km
Stratovolcano · Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Activity
Normal Baseline
1 events (1.9x rate)
Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map
Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.
Recent seismicity within 50 km
1 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.1.9x this volcano’s usual rate.
| Time | Magnitude | Epicenter / Place | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6h ago | M2.1 | 11 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 12 km |
| 1d ago | M1.6 | 3 km SW of Ashford, Washington | 26 km |
| 1d ago | M0.8 | 3 km SW of Ashford, Washington | 26 km |
| 1d ago | M0.9 | 11 km SE of Ashford, Washington | 20 km |
| 2d ago | M1.8 | 4 km S of Carbonado, Washington | 30 km |
| 2d ago | M0.9 | 5 km S of Carbonado, Washington | 30 km |
| 2d ago | M0.8 | 3 km SSW of Ashford, Washington | 26 km |
| 3d ago | M1.3 | 19 km E of Morton, Washington | 40 km |
| 4d ago | M0.2 | 26 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 4.2 km |
| 4d ago | M0.5 | 14 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 9.3 km |
| 5d ago | M0.8 | 9 km ENE of Enumclaw, Washington | 42 km |
| 6d ago | M1.3 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.1 km |
| 6d ago | M1.0 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.1 km |
| 7d ago | M0.8 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.4 km |
| 8d ago | M0.5 | 18 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 14 km |
| 8d ago | M0.5 | 20 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 13 km |
| 8d ago | M1.6 | 16 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 12 km |
| 9d ago | M0.4 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 10d ago | M0.1 | 12 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 14 km |
| 10d ago | M1.4 | 1 km SE of Kapowsin, Washington | 37 km |
| 12d ago | M0.5 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 12d ago | M0.3 | 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 14 km |
| 12d ago | M1.6 | 8 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 15 km |
| 13d ago | M0.1 | 8 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 13d ago | M0.1 | 8 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 13d ago | M0.4 | 16 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 12 km |
| 13d ago | M0.4 | 12 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 12 km |
| 15d ago | M0.8 | 16 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 12 km |
| 17d ago | M0.3 | 16 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 13 km |
| 17d ago | M0.5 | 24 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.7 km |
| 17d ago | M0.9 | 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 13 km |
| 20d ago | M1.6 | 8 km ESE of Carbonado, Washington | 26 km |
| 20d ago | M1.5 | 13 km SE of Ashford, Washington | 25 km |
| 20d ago | M0.8 | 24 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.3 km |
| 22d ago | M0.7 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.5 km |
| 23d ago | M1.7 | 12 km ESE of Enumclaw, Washington | 36 km |
| 24d ago | M0.7 | 3 km SW of Ashford, Washington | 26 km |
| 24d ago | M0.6 | 17 km SE of Carbonado, Washington | 16 km |
| 24d ago | M0.2 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.9 km |
| 25d ago | M1.2 | 2 km SW of Ashford, Washington | 26 km |
| 25d ago | M0.4 | 4 km SSW of Ashford, Washington | 27 km |
| 25d ago | M0.3 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.9 km |
| 25d ago | M0.3 | 21 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.7 km |
| 25d ago | M2.6 | 2 km SW of Ashford, Washington | 26 km |
| 25d ago | M0.2 | 7 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 26d ago | M0.4 | 6 km E of Kapowsin, Washington | 32 km |
| 26d ago | M0.1 | 7 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 29d ago | M0.9 | 2 km SW of Ashford, Washington | 25 km |
| 29d ago | M0.5 | 13 km SE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 30d ago | M0.3 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 30d ago | M0.5 | 16 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 12 km |
| 30d ago | M0.7 | 3 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 31 km |
| 30d ago | M0.7 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 32d ago | M-0.2 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 32d ago | M-0.1 | 13 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 15 km |
| 34d ago | M-0.2 | 23 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.4 km |
| 35d ago | M0.6 | 7 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 36d ago | M0.3 | 11 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 23 km |
| 36d ago | M0.3 | 18 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 17 km |
| 38d ago | M0.1 | 20 km SE of Carbonado, Washington | 14 km |
| 38d ago | M0.3 | 12 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 14 km |
| 38d ago | M1.8 | 0 km SSE of Kapowsin, Washington | 38 km |
| 39d ago | M1.0 | 4 km WSW of Mineral, Washington | 40 km |
| 39d ago | M1.3 | 14 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 15 km |
| 40d ago | M0.4 | 26 km NNE of Packwood, Washington | 15 km |
| 40d ago | M0.6 | 26 km NNE of Packwood, Washington | 14 km |
| 41d ago | M-0.1 | 16 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 14 km |
| 41d ago | M-0.5 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.8 km |
| 41d ago | M-0.2 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.6 km |
| 41d ago | M0.9 | 10 km SW of Packwood, Washington | 34 km |
| 42d ago | M0.6 | 21 km NNE of Packwood, Washington | 20 km |
| 42d ago | M0.2 | 7 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 43d ago | M0.3 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 43d ago | M0.4 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 43d ago | M1.6 | 11 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 13 km |
| 44d ago | M0.6 | 4 km SW of Packwood, Washington | 30 km |
| 44d ago | M-0.1 | 14 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 45d ago | M-0.0 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 45d ago | M0.9 | 8 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 46d ago | M0.6 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.9 km |
| 46d ago | M0.4 | 14 km N of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 46d ago | M1.2 | 13 km E of Enumclaw, Washington | 40 km |
| 47d ago | M0.4 | 16 km SE of Carbonado, Washington | 17 km |
| 47d ago | M0.9 | 3 km NNE of Packwood, Washington | 25 km |
| 47d ago | M0.4 | 6 km E of Kapowsin, Washington | 32 km |
| 47d ago | M1.5 | 6 km NW of Eatonville, Washington | 44 km |
| 48d ago | M0.6 | 9 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 13 km |
| 48d ago | M-0.2 | 7 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 48d ago | M1.6 | 7 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 49d ago | M0.6 | 16 km SE of Carbonado, Washington | 17 km |
| 49d ago | M0.6 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 49d ago | M0.0 | 16 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 20 km |
| 50d ago | M1.3 | 18 km SW of Nile, Washington | 50 km |
| 50d ago | M0.3 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 51d ago | M0.2 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 51d ago | M-0.4 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 19 km |
| 52d ago | M0.1 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 52d ago | M0.4 | 9 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 14 km |
| 53d ago | M1.6 | 21 km SSE of Packwood, Washington | 50 km |
| 53d ago | M1.1 | 8 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 54d ago | M0.7 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 54d ago | M0.6 | 16 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 54d ago | M-0.0 | 15 km S of Carbonado, Washington | 22 km |
| 54d ago | M-0.4 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 54d ago | M0.7 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 55d ago | M0.6 | 4 km S of Carbonado, Washington | 30 km |
| 55d ago | M0.7 | 23 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.1 km |
| 55d ago | M1.2 | 8 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 55d ago | M0.5 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.3 km |
| 56d ago | M0.7 | 13 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 12 km |
| 56d ago | M1.8 | 3 km SW of Kapowsin, Washington | 39 km |
| 57d ago | M0.0 | 15 km S of Carbonado, Washington | 22 km |
| 57d ago | M0.5 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.1 km |
| 57d ago | M0.5 | 3 km WNW of Packwood, Washington | 26 km |
| 57d ago | M0.4 | 12 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 12 km |
| 59d ago | M0.1 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 59d ago | M-0.0 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 60d ago | M-0.4 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 60d ago | M1.0 | 6 km E of Kapowsin, Washington | 32 km |
| 60d ago | M-0.1 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 22 km |
| 61d ago | M-0.5 | 11 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 14 km |
| 61d ago | M0.3 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 61d ago | M0.4 | 11 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 14 km |
| 61d ago | M0.4 | 5 km SSW of Crocker, Washington | 35 km |
| 61d ago | M0.3 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 61d ago | M0.3 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 62d ago | M1.6 | 8 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 62d ago | M-0.4 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 62d ago | M0.4 | 15 km S of Carbonado, Washington | 22 km |
| 62d ago | M0.4 | 11 km SW of Packwood, Washington | 35 km |
| 62d ago | M0.3 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 62d ago | M1.5 | 20 km S of Packwood, Washington | 49 km |
| 62d ago | M-0.5 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.4 km |
| 63d ago | M-0.2 | 8 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 64d ago | M0.6 | 15 km S of Carbonado, Washington | 22 km |
| 64d ago | M0.4 | 7 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 64d ago | M-0.2 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 65d ago | M-0.3 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 65d ago | M0.6 | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 65d ago | M0.8 | 16 km S of Carbonado, Washington | 21 km |
| 65d ago | M0.1 | 10 km E of Ashford, Washington | 14 km |
| 66d ago | M1.0 | 18 km WSW of Nile, Washington | 49 km |
| 66d ago | M1.0 | 24 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 2.2 km |
| 68d ago | M0.6 | 1 km SE of Kapowsin, Washington | 36 km |
| 68d ago | M1.0 | 17 km WSW of Nile, Washington | 50 km |
| 69d ago | M0.1 | 6 km ESE of Ashford, Washington | 19 km |
| 69d ago | M0.6 | 23 km SSE of Greenwater, Washington | 18 km |
| 69d ago | M0.1 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 69d ago | M0.3 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 69d ago | M0.6 | 3 km SSE of Enumclaw, Washington | 39 km |
| 69d ago | M0.1 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 69d ago | M0.8 | 17 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 5.7 km |
| 69d ago | M1.4 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 70d ago | M0.9 | 8 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 70d ago | M0.3 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 70d ago | M0.3 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 70d ago | M0.0 | 6 km ESE of Ashford, Washington | 19 km |
| 70d ago | M-0.4 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 70d ago | M0.3 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 70d ago | M-0.2 | 6 km E of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 70d ago | M0.3 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 70d ago | M0.2 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 70d ago | M1.7 | 8 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 70d ago | M1.2 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 70d ago | M0.3 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 70d ago | M0.8 | 8 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 70d ago | M0.3 | 7 km E of Ashford, Washington | 17 km |
| 70d ago | M0.9 | 10 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 13 km |
| 70d ago | M2.4 | 8 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 70d ago | M0.7 | 24 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.4 km |
| 70d ago | M-0.1 | 24 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.5 km |
| 70d ago | M1.4 | 24 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.6 km |
| 70d ago | M0.8 | 24 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.5 km |
| 70d ago | M0.6 | 24 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.4 km |
| 70d ago | M-0.1 | 24 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 1.6 km |
| 70d ago | M-0.3 | 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 13 km |
| 70d ago | M0.8 | 24 km SSW of Packwood, Washington | 48 km |
| 70d ago | M-0.1 | 17 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 12 km |
| 70d ago | M0.8 | 3 km S of Enumclaw, Washington | 40 km |
| 71d ago | M0.3 | 13 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 13 km |
| 71d ago | M1.0 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.3 km |
| 71d ago | M0.4 | 10 km ESE of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 72d ago | M1.3 | 11 km W of Packwood, Washington | 26 km |
| 72d ago | M1.3 | 17 km WSW of Nile, Washington | 50 km |
| 72d ago | M0.3 | 22 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | 0.9 km |
| 73d ago | M0.5 | 14 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | 15 km |
| 76d ago | M1.0 | 8 km E of Ashford, Washington | 16 km |
| 76d ago | M0.5 | 8 km ESE of Ashford, Washington | 18 km |
| 76d ago | M0.3 | 15 km NE of Ashford, Washington | 9.5 km |
Geological & Tectonic Profile
StratovolcanoMount Rainier is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.
Edifice TypeStratovolcano
Major rockAndesite / Basaltic Andesite
TectonicsSubduction zone
Volcanic ArcHigh Cascades Volcanic Arc
Volcano Dossier
VN #321030Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.
CountryUnited States
Crater Coordinates46.853°, -121.760°
Summit4.4 km
SubregionHigh Cascades Volcanic Arc
Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#321030)
Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure
Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →
Regional Seismic Profile
Cascadia & Pacific Northwest
Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for Cascadia & Pacific Northwest.
Open Regional HubFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols
The most recent eruption of Mount Rainier recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 1450.
Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile