The combination of 5 inches of rain combined with snow-water equivalent melt of 2 to 5 inches resulted in a total water event of around 4 to 9 inches. This resulted in unprecedented flooding across the Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains and adjacent plains.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS BYZ wrote it up.
The combination of 5 inches of rain combined with snow-water equivalent melt of 2 to 5 inches resulted in a total water event of around 4 to 9 inches. This resulted in unprecedented flooding across the Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains and adjacent plains. This flooding was rarely or never been seen before across many area rivers and streams.
Many locations were evacuated across the Beartooths and Absarokas with multiple communities completely isolated. Several water rescues occurred throughout the area. At the Woodbine Campground on the Stillwater River, 68 people were rescued and transported by raft to safety. Many bridges and roads were completely washed out and several homes/cabins were washed into the Yellowstone and Stillwater Rivers.
The following river levels were recorded:
Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone near Belfry crested at 12.93 feet, shattering the old record of 9.97 feet set on 6/9/1981.|Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone at Edgar crested at 13.06 feet, shattering the old record of 9.5 feet set on 6/1/2020. |Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs peaked at 13.88 feet, shattering the old record of 11.5 feet set on 6/14/1918.|Stillwater River near Absarokee peaked at 11.02 feet, shattering the old record of 7.17 feet set on 6/2/2020.|Yellowstone River at Billings peaked at 16.50 feet, breaking the old record of 15.00 feet set on 6/12/1997.
The following is a list of the counties and associated impacts from this historical flood event:
Carbon County|-Significant flooding occurred on Rock Creek through the town of Red Lodge. Evacuations were needed.|-A significant number of bridges and roads were lost, including the 19th and 9th street bridges in town.|-North Side bridge on East Side Road south of Red Lodge was washed out.|-A water main was compromised and all town water was shut off for a period of time.|-Red Lodge Northwestern Energy customers lost power for a time due to severe flooding compromising the service lines.
The following areas were evacuated:|Access via the North and South Entrances of East Side Road.|Areas east of Broadway and west of Rock Creek from 19th Street to 16th Street.|Park Avenue|South Kainu Avenue|Island at Rock Creek -Kainu
A shelter was set up at the Gruell Building at the Carbon County Fairgrounds.|Church of the Rockies also served as an evacuation shelter.|Areas west of US 212/Broadway Ave., between the intersections with 19th Street and south to Adams Ave on the east side of Adams Avenue.|Lovers Lane in Belfry.|Town of Fromberg, locations east of 3rd Street East.
The following road closures occurred:
-Highway 212 between 14th St and West Fork Rd|-19th Street Bridge|-Areas east of Broadway from 19th to 14th|-Roads along Rock Creek|-Kainu lane|-Park Ave|-Meeteetsee Trail at Rock Creek|-East Rosebud Rd #2177 on the Beartooth Ranger District|-East River Street at 3rd Street due to flood issues (Fromberg).
***Estimated damages for Carbon County $17.6 million.
Park County|Significant flooding occurred along the Yellowstone and other smaller creeks throughout Park County, including the backside of the Absarokas in the Cooke City / Silver Gate areas. Extensive flooding throughout Park County washed out bridges and roads, and left communities and homes isolated. It also made drinking water unsafe in many areas. The town of Gardiner became isolated and was surrounded by water. A Do Not Drink order for water was issued for the area after a water main broke. Cooke City and Silver Gate also were isolated and surrounded by water. The communities were isolated from each other.
The following impacts occurred:|-Carbella Bridge was washed out.|-Highway 89 was closed from MM 13-15 in Yankee Jim Canyon due to a mudslide with rocks and water on roadway.|-The Yellowstone River crested Highway 89 at MM 51 and was closed.|-Gardiner to Mammoth closed due to rocks and water on roadway. Road washed out in many places.|-3 feet of water over the Joe Brown Fishing Access site.|-4 feet of water over the road at Silver Gate.|-3 bridges on Soda Butte Creek were washed out.|-Mul Heron Bridge was closed due to a downed tree and water on the bridge. The upper half of Cinnibar Bain was inaccessible.|-Cooke City had no fresh water.|-The Yellowstone Ranger District office in Livingston closed due to advancing flood waters.|-Many people were landlocked, including the communities of Gardiner, Cooke City, Silver Gate, the Cinnabar Basin, Tom Miner Basin, stretches of U.S. Highway 89 South, Mill Creek, and Old Yellowstone Trail.|-Mill Creek Bridge and Pine Creek Bridge were the only two operational bridges in Paradise Valley.
Livingston Areas that were Evacuated:
-Ninth Street Island|-Much of the east side of Livingston including B Street east and Lewis Street south.|-An emergency shelter was activated at Hope Lutheran Church at 2152 Graf Street in Bozeman.
Sweet Grass County|-Main Boulder Road south of Graham Creek Trailhead was closed. The area affected was south of McLeod on the Main Boulder Road.
Stillwater County|-Nye Road at the Stillwater Mine collapsed leaving limited access to the mine complex.|-Mine bridge to their secondary complex was severely damaged and impassable.|-Rescue operation occurred at the Woodbine Campground past the Sibanye-Stillwater mine in Nye involving 68 people who were stranded due to the Nye Road being washed out. They were transported by raft on the Stillwater River past the portion of the Nye Road that was washed out.|-Evacuation ordered for parts of Stillwater County near Nye/Stillwater Mine area via Code RED|-The Reed Point area flooded. However, county roads and bridges were able to divert most of the water away from town.|-A bridge washed out in the vicinity of Chicken Creek on West Rosebud Rd.|-Extensive flooding occurred around Columbus, Absarokee, Nye, and Fishtail.|-Many voluntary evacuations as well as rescues from homes occurred.|-Many roads flooded and were impassable.|-The bridge at Riddle's Cliff washed out.|-A cabin floated downstream near the Nye Bridge.
Yellowstone County|-The mainstem of the Yellowstone River experienced historic flooding.|-The Water Plant for the City of Billings was forced to shut down for a period of time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Please see Episode Narrative for information regarding this multi-county historic flood event.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, June 2022
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1039252.