Mount Rainier Not Erupting: Scientists Debunk Viral Rumor About Volcanic Activity

In a classic case of misinformation gone viral, scientists at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) found themselves in the unexpected position of having to debunk alarming rumors about Mount Rainier this week. The Daily Mail published a report suggesting that Washington state’s iconic volcano was sending “a flurry of strange signals” that might indicate “something inside the volcano might be shifting.” The sensationalist article quickly spread online, causing unnecessary concern among residents in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, where more than 3.3 million people live in the shadow of the towering stratovolcano. The Daily Mail’s dramatic description painted a frightening picture of potential “ashfall, flooding, and catastrophic mudflows” threatening to “cripple entire communities” if an eruption occurred.

What actually happened was far more mundane, according to PNSN scientists who took to their blog on Wednesday to set the record straight. The perceived “unusual activity” stemmed from a technical issue at just one monitoring station called St. Andrews Rock (STAR). This station, described as “one of the last remaining old analog sites on the mountain,” uses low-power radio transmission to relay data. The scientists explained that recent stormy weather likely caused “rime ice buildup” on the station’s antenna, creating radio interference that was misinterpreted as seismic activity. This type of weather-related interference is a known issue with this particular station due to its outdated technology and exposed location just west of the mountain’s summit.

PNSN Director Harold Tobin explained the situation simply to local news station KING 5: “We realized that what they were seeing was one, just one, of our many seismic stations that was sending out essentially static, just noise, instead of actual data. And that’s the whole problem, and the thing that people think is tremor at the volcano, it’s just some static.” The PNSN blog post included recent seismograms and detailed explanations of how typical signals from the station can be affected by various natural phenomena including glacier slips, rock falls, and high winds. More importantly, the scientists emphasized that genuine volcanic activity would appear across numerous monitoring stations simultaneously, not just one, and would be promptly detected and reported by their network.

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network doesn’t just monitor Mount Rainier on a whim—it plays a vital role in public safety throughout the region. Operated cooperatively by the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Seattle Field Office, PNSN maintains comprehensive monitoring of earthquake and volcanic activity across the Pacific Northwest. Their work involves maintaining sensitive equipment in challenging environments, analyzing complex data patterns, and providing timely information to both emergency management agencies and the public. This incident highlights the critical importance of their work, especially when misinformation can spread rapidly and cause undue alarm.

For context, Mount Rainier’s last minor eruption occurred in 1884—nearly 140 years ago. While the volcano is considered potentially active and is monitored closely, there are no current indications of an imminent eruption. The scientists’ frustration with having to address unfounded claims was evident in their unusually pointed blog response, which stated: “Unfortunately, sloppy journalism by non-scientists who don’t understand seismology nor check with those that do can generate confusion in the public and more work for those who need to correct the clearly incorrect information. It is no wonder that some publications are only considered tabloids and should never be believed.”

This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the responsibility that comes with reporting on scientific matters, especially those related to potential natural hazards. While Mount Rainier does present genuine long-term volcanic risks that scientists continuously monitor, the public is best served by accurate information based on proper scientific understanding rather than sensationalist headlines designed to generate clicks. The scientists at PNSN demonstrate the vital role that expert voices play in cutting through misinformation and providing context to complex data. Meanwhile, residents of the Pacific Northwest can rest assured that multiple sophisticated monitoring systems are in place to provide early warning should any genuine volcanic activity begin at Mount Rainier or other Cascade volcanoes—and that information would come from scientific authorities, not tabloid speculation.