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Contact: Patti Wold, Information Officer, 360-569-6701
Mount Rainier Acting Superintendent Tracy Swartout advises that access to Mount Rainier National Park is closed temporarily at the Nisqually Entrance due to flooding in the Kautz Creek area and potential for flood damage in other park areas.Heavy rain at high elevations on the mountain falling onto the significant snowpack at Paradise has created dangerous conditions throughout the park.This "rain on snow" event is similar to conditions that were present when the historic flood occurred in November 2006. As a precautionary measure, all park visitors on the west side of the park (from the Nisqually entrance east through Longmire and on to Paradise) have been advised to leave the park. Only authorized employees will remain until conditions stabilize, allowing for an assessment of conditions as well as a determination of any road or infrastructure damage. The weather forecast is for continued rain throughout today, with rain and snow showers projected for Wednesday. Updates are posted through social media on the park's Facebook and Twitter sites, as well as the Mount Rainier webpage www.nps.gov/mora. Recorded telephone updates are available at 360-569-2211. -NPS- |
Last updated: February 28, 2015