A cool, wet April and May brought considerable snow to much of the upper elevations of the Beartooth and Absorokas. In the last several days, warmer weather and over two inches of rain in the same area has created severe flooding in and around Yellowstone National Park.

Yesterday afternoon, the Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs, just north of the Park boundary, was flowing at 49,200 cubic feet per second. For perspective, the previous record flow there was 30,000 cfs, in 1918.

The town of Gardiner at the north park entrance is isolated. Gardner River has destroyed portions of the Park road between Gardiner and Mammoth, and highway 191 north of Gardiner washed out in Yankee Jim Canyon.

Lots of damage, Gardiner is under a “Do not use” order for water supply, since their and Mammoth’s (upstream) sewer lines are breached. No water, even boiled.

Town of Red Lodge has major flooding from Rock Creek, which was partially blocked by a failed bridge, which diverted water into town.

Several bridges, some major, have failed or are questionable. Carmella Bridge, from Highway 191 went downstream yesterday morning. It was built in 1918.

If you’re planning a visit to the Park, I’d hold off.

https://youtu.be/dGt9ntZ7QuA

MTV

Wow! That is going to be a mess!

My son lives in Cody and sent me some video of Red Lodge and also some of the road damage in the park. Looks like visitation might be throttled back for some time.

My coworker lives in Reed Point and has been assisting in rescue/response work. He sent me an aerial vid of all the road washouts and one of an entire bridge superstructure being washed away.

Insane.

More news article: Check out this article from USA TODAY:

Yellowstone National Park damaged by record flooding, dangerous rockslides: What we know

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 619882001/

Rocky Mountain Rotors is shuttling people out of Gardiner today. Mid day wind forecast for BZN is gusts to 48 knots.

MTV

North entrance should be closed for the season. I just got back up to my Star Valley home and we’ve had ALOT of rain in last couple weeks up here since going south for a spell. Everything is as green as Ive seen it.

Families on the fence about the expense of traveling that made the decision to go are going to be disappointed if they arrive to Yellowstone without updating their news first. Signs of closure at all the gas stations on the way up yesterday.

A friend of a friend that has a small ranch about a mile south of Miner on the west side of the Yellowstone is stranded without electricity. The bridge he crosses about 16 miles north of Gardner is gone.

May be a good time though for those just wanting to hit the IMAX theatre in town, park closed West open.

180Marty wrote:A friend of a friend that has a small ranch about a mile south of Miner on the west side of the Yellowstone is stranded without electricity. The bridge he crosses about 16 miles north of Gardner is gone.

Yep, that's the Carbella Bridge. That sucker went downstream fast......here's video: https://missoulian.com/news/state-and-r ... b9304.html.

The west side of the river there is going to be kinda lonely for a while. I think there's an old road that goes quite a ways north to another crossing, but not sure.

MTV

Just announced that the water supply in Billings will be shut down. Saw a picture of Yankee Jim Canyon where the road is normally about 50 feet of more above the river. The road is washed over with water. Multiple people in south central Montana stranded because of all the bridges gone. Good thing about it is all of the tourists are going to be flushed out of the state. Oh and my family reunion in Red Lodge cancelled. Nice

Not good when people get cut off from supplies that they need... hoping people can get where they need to be and have plenty of food and water to stick it out. On the other hand seems like the whole area (Yellowstone) could use a good flushing .

Live on the Yellowstone River north of Gardiner. Now live a lot closer to the Yellowstone with a sheer 30 foot cliff to the river. All trees and soil denuded. Was amazing to watch large trees just washed off the riverbank in real time. Engineers coming next week to advise how to stabilize the bank. We are putting up a fence so our dog doesn't go over the cliff. Amazing to watch the course of the river change in 1 day.

nodrama wrote:Live on the Yellowstone River north of Gardiner. Now live a lot closer to the Yellowstone with a sheer 30 foot cliff to the river. All trees and soil denuded. Was amazing to watch large trees just washed off the riverbank in real time. Engineers coming next week to advise how to stabilize the bank. We are putting up a fence so our dog doesn't go over the cliff. Amazing to watch the course of the river change in 1 day.

Devastating. I wish you luck.