Yellowstone National Park closed all entrances and evacuated some visitors on Monday after heavy rains led to flooding and rockslides that washed out roads and at least one bridge.
Visitors in the northern part of the park were being evacuated due to “extremely hazardous conditions” following “unprecedented” rainfall, according to a news release.
“Effective immediately, no inbound visitor traffic will be allowed into the park until conditions stabilize and the park can assess damage to roads and bridges and other facilities,” the release said.
Power was also out throughout the park, as well as in the nearby town of Gardiner, Montana.
More evacuations of visitors were planned through the day, Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said in the release.
“Due to predictions of higher flood levels in areas of the park’s southern loop, in addition to concerns with water and wastewater systems, we will begin to move visitors in the southern loop out of the park later today in coordination with our in-park business partners,” he said.
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Sholly added, “We will not know timing of the park’s reopening until flood waters subside and we’re able to assess the damage throughout the park. It is likely that the northern loop will be closed for a substantial amount of time.”
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Monday for Yellowstone, where rain was forecast to fall into the evening before turning to snow in the overnight hours.
Additional rainfall is expected for the next several days, likely leading to more flooding, the weather service said.
