We have an update on the flooding in Yellowstone National Park.
The three states that encompass the park have been under moderate to exceptional drought. The latest drought monitor though showed a bit of improvement for the area this week with a lot of the land shifting to just abnormally dry.
This comparison was shared on Twitter of what the park is currently facing. It shows a normal day at the park on the right and on the left, it shows the devastating flood and just how high the water has risen. Fields in the surrounding area that are used for cattle grazing are now home to standing water and a flowing river.
USDA Meteorologist, Brad Rippey, shares some reasoning behind this weather event.
“As we’ve moistened things up this spring and we’ve had very cool conditions, that has led to a later than average snow melt. So, we’re adding snow to the runoff along with rain.”
Rippey also attributes the flooding to the active weather pattern created by a strong dome of high pressure over the Central and Southern Plains.
Related:
Yellowstone National Park is evacuating due to extreme flooding
Excessive rainfall it the Northern Plains is triggering floods
Canadian prairies are in tug of war between drought and flooding
