WASHINGTON – A debris flow over the weekend has temporarily closed Westside Road, according to a social media post from Mount Rainier National Park.
“The [debris flow] event was triggered by an intense, localized thunderstorm that mobilized loose sediment and rocks in the upper Dry Creek basin,” the park said.
The park warned recreationalists not to attempt crossing any areas impacted by floods and debris flows, avoid lingering near slopes after intense rainfall and immediately report any additional observed slope movement to a ranger.
” Rising water level, shaking ground and a rumbling noise may signal a debris flow or lahar,” the park said. “If you are near a river and notice a rapid rise in water level, feel a prolonged shaking of the ground, and hear a roaring sound coming from up valley (often described as the sound made by a fast–moving freight train), then move quickly to higher ground!”
