Scientists predicted events like this week's flash flooding would happen more often in the Yellowstone area as global temperatures climb.
Extreme rainfall rates and rapid snowmelt prompted the flash flooding in Yellowstone National Park early this week, washing out roads and bridges in the park and causing "significant" damage to the town of Gardiner, Montana, at the park's entrance.
Abnormally warm temperatures and torrential rain triggered a wave of snowmelt over the weekend which produced nearly a foot of water runoff by Monday.Parts of Yellowstone National Park may stay closed for 'substantial length of time' after severe floodingThe Beartooth and Absaroka mountain ranges"received anywhere from 0.8 inches to over 5 inches of rainfall" from June 10 to June 13, the National Weather Service in Billings revealed Tuesday.
Watch moment house collapses into flood water 00:59Scientists predicted events like this week's flash flooding would happen more often in the Yellowstone area as global temperatures climb. A report published just last year on the future of Yellowstone concluded the climate crisis would lead to more rainfall and rapid snowmelt due to extreme spring and summer warmth.