PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — KING 5 News reports the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service calmed the nerves of Twitter users Wednesday amid speculation Mount Rainier was “venting” or worse, erupting. The National Park Service later confirmed it was just a cloud all along.
Multiple people began tweeting around 10:30 a.m. about what appeared to be smoke coming out of Mount Rainier.
USGS Volcanoes assured people the stratovolcano was not erupting and that a number of volcanologists were onsite installing new equipment and confirmed no abnormal activity.
The National Park Service confirmed it was a lenticular cloud that from certain angles was mistaken for venting.
The last reported seismic activity at Mount Rainier was on Saturday, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
