Hazards

Glacier Peak tends to erupt explosively, and when the volcano reawakens the most serious hazards will impact population centers located relatively far away from the volcano.

The areas at highest risk from pyroclastic flows are the valleys within the wilderness area surrounding the volcano.

Owing to prevailing wind patterns, tephra fall during future eruptions is most likely east of Glacier Peak, but it could affect communities in all directions from the volcano depending upon wind patterns during an eruption.

Past eruptions have severely affected river valleys that head on Glacier Peak.

Glacier Peak may not erupt within our lifetimes, but if it does its geographic impact would vary depending on the size of the eruption, wind direction, and type of hazards produced.