3 More Earthquakes Near Mount Rainier Sunday Night

EATONVILLE, WA - Three more relatively large earthquakes were measured in a mountainous area west of Mount Rainier late Sunday night, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. The three quakes were all above a magnitude 2, with the two strongest measuring 2.4 and 2.3. Two other quakes - a 2.1 and a 2.4 - hit in the same area late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

The quakes are happening under a mountain that is located just west of the Mount Rainier National Park boundary and south of the Puyallup River. The closest body of water to the quakes is called Niesson Creek.

Although the quakes are likely too small to have been felt in local cities, the quakes are the largest recorded in Western Washington in recent weeks.

Patch.com is reaching out to the PNSN to find out more about these quakes. It's important to note that seismic activity like this is common in the Pacific Northwest, and is not necessarily a predictor of larger quakes to come.

For example, since last spring, dozens of very small quakes have been happening under Puget Sound between Bainbridge Island and Bremerton. Those quakes are happening close to the Seattle Fault, a major fault that could produce a destructive magnitude 6 or larger quake. However, seismologists have said that the Bremerton swarm is likely too deep underground to affect the Seattle Fault.

Image via PNSN