Hazards

The pattern of eruptions over the last 13,000 years suggest that the chances of a future eruption at Medicine Lake volcano are about 1 in 3,600 in any given year.

Basaltic to andesitic lava flows and associated cinder cones and spatter cones are the dominant types of eruption at Medicine Lake volcano.

At Medicine Lake Volcano, there is a 1 in 5,000 chance of an eruption producing enough tephra to accumulate to 1 cm (0.4 in) thick in any given year.

Small local pyroclastic flows could occur on the upper parts of the volcano during emplacement of silicic lava flows similar to Glass Mountain and Little Glass Mountain.

The closed topography formed by the caldera rim around Medicine Lake could allow toxic gases to pond during periods of extended calm wind conditions, potentially resulting in asphyxiation.