Yellowstone Will Partially Reopen Wed After Catastrophic Floods

JUN 14 2022·Updated SEP 20 2022

Story

Image credit: AP [via NY Post]

The Facts

Following devastating flooding that damaged roads and stranded residents, Yellowstone National Park is expected to partially reopen Wed.
FOX News
The park's southern loop will be open to a controlled number of visitors and will be managed based on vehicle license plates.
New York Post
The southern loop, home to Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone will also host visitors with proof of overnight reservations at hotels, campgrounds, and the backcountry regardless of license plate type.
guardian
The main route through Yellowstone was severely damaged along the northern loop. The area's attractions include Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs, both inaccessible by a roadway washed out in multiple locations. That area will likely remain closed for a significant amount of time.
NPR
Extraordinary amounts of rainfall began in the Yellowstone region on June 12. The deluge of water caused mudslides, rockslides, and significant flooding that could take years for recovery and a potential cost of $1B in repairs.
USA Today
This summer was expected to be a tourist boom as the park celebrates its 150th anniversary. While the northern loop will remain closed, park officials have consulted with over 1k business owners, park partners, and residents to plan how to manage the remainder of the tourist season.
CNN

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Yellowstone's flooding was caused by a super-soaking atmospheric river that began in the American Northwest, catastrophic rainfall, and melting snowpack. However, the real culprit is climate change, which intensifies what should be normal weather events into disasters.

Green Matters

Narrative B

It's easy to dismiss any extreme weather event as a consequence of climate change, but in reality they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with it. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.