Damaging thunderstorm hits Yellowstone; ‘Like a hurricane’

A severe thunderstorm swept across the southern portion of Yellowstone National Park late Monday, uprooting trees and snarling traffic.

Details were scant at the time of this post, but Dave Reeves, a guide for Yellowstone Tour Guides, told FTW Outdoors that trees were down between West Thumb and Canyon, toward the South Entrance, and near Old Faithful.

“I was at Lake Village and it was like a hurricane,” Reeves said. “We saw several trees falling, many trees blocking the road to the north and south. Destruction everywhere. It was pretty crazy!”

At the time of this post, the park had not responded to an inquiry regarding damage and possible injuries.

Jim Holstein of Yellowstone Tour Guides said the storm struck just after 5 p.m. He had been told that multiple power lines had fallen.

Holstein later posted on Facebook:

“Our guide Dave has made it to Old Faithful, and said there was multiple trees down in the road, some cars hit by falling trees, and significant damage. Expect long delays well into the evening on the West, South and East sides of the park.

“A lightening strike also started a fire in the Fishing Bridge area.”

Reeves’ images show uprooted trees resting against the Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Hotel Annex. Phone calls to the hotel were not answered.

Traffic after a storm slammed parts of Yellowstone National Park. Photo: Dave Reeves

On June 13 2022, unprecedented rainfall inundated Yellowstone, causing widespread damage to roads, power structures and water systems.

It was deemed a 500-year flood event and a comprehensive recovery effort is still underway.

–Images courtesy of Dave Reeves