Yellowstone National Park floods

The Yellowstone River, which runs through the park and several Park County cities, swelled to a record high Monday, June 13 as a result of recent heavy rain and significant runoff from melting snow in higher elevations.

The Yellowstone River gauge at Corwin Springs, Montana, reached 13.88 feet Monday afternoon, surpassing the historical high crest of 11.5 feet set in 1918, according to NOAA river gauge data.

Due to the dangerous floods, Yellowstone National Park has been closed to tourists until at least Wednesday, June 15 officials say. The park has been evacuated, and some residents in the nearby areas have been trapped without safe drinking water.

Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly said in a statement Monday that “our first focus has been to evacuate the northern area of the park where we have several road and bridge failures, mudslides, and other difficulties.”