Heavy flooding devastated Yellowstone National Park and nearby communities on June 13, 2022, washing out roads and bridges, and cutting off electricity. The park officials evacuated tourists from parts of the iconic park at the peak of the summer tourist season.

Severe flooding due to unprecedented heavy precipitation on top of wet snow with warmer weather triggered Mudslides, debris flow, rockslides, and rockfalls. The roads and bridges were washed away, and houses were destroyed across the Yellowstone. The river is wreaking havoc all over the Yellowstone national park and undercuts the riverbanks. The high-water level is reported and extremely hazardous conditions near Gardiner, Montana, U.S. The entrance to a national park is closed for the first time in 34 years. Over 10,000 people have safely left the park since officials announced they would close all entrances to incoming visitors Monday. The reported strong wind and snow in the higher terrains will worsen the flood conditions even more. There were reports of damages to several houses, cars (by rockfall), and multiple road and bridge failures. A large rockslide on North Entrance Road in Gardner Canyon of Yellowstone National Park, Montana on Monday is also reported. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The flooding had made drinking water unsafe to drink in the whole region.

Flooding water is eroding and undercutting the river banks in Yellowstone National Park (National Park Services).
Flooding water eroding and undercutting the river banks in Yellowstone National Park (National Park Services).

 

 

According to the National Weather Service, the Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs crested at 13.88 feet Monday, higher than the previous record of 11.5 feet set in 1918, On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, Yellowstone recorded 2.5 inches (6 cm) of rain, and the Beartooth Mountains northeast of Yellowstone reached 4 inches (10 cm).