(Minghui.org) A strong upper-level ridge of high pressure over the Southeast U.S. has brought soaring temperatures since June 13, 2022, affecting more than 70 million people from coast to coast. It has also resulted in the death of a large number of livestock.
Yellowstone National Park had its first summer-closure due to a natural disaster in three decades on Tuesday, June 14, as unprecedented flooding swept through the northern half of the park, washing away bridges and roads.
Thousands of Cattle Die in Kansas Due to Heat Stress
According to information released by the Kansas state government, the extreme heat and humidity in recent days have killed thousands of cattle in the state. Other livestock still face a harsh situation as scorching temperatures remain.
Matthew Lara, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said that at least 2,000 cattle died due to the intense heat and humidity that recently descended on southwest Kansas.
Lara added that the current cattle death toll only represents the facilities that have contacted the agency to assist with the disposal of dead cattle.
Kansas is the third largest U.S. cattle state behind Texas and Nebraska, with more than 2.4 million cattle in feedlots.
The cattle deaths came as the industry in the U.S. continues to struggle with reduced herds due to drought and increased feed costs as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused limitations on the global grain supply, according to Reuters.
On Monday, June 13, temperatures reached 108 degrees in northwest Kansas. Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc., believed the high temperature “is going to be oppressively hot and stressful for the animals.”
Yellowstone National Park Forced to Close Due to Flooding, Tens of Thousands Evacuated
Yellowstone National Park was hit with unprecedented heavy rains, triggering record flooding and rockslides and the closure of five entrances to the park on June 13.
More than 10,000 visitors were told to evacuate Yellowstone after floodwaters swept through the northern half of the park on Tuesday, June 14, destroying bridges and roads and sending a staff dormitory several miles downstream. This is the first time in three decades that the park has been forced to close during the summer due to a natural disaster.
Yellowstone National Park, which spans Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary and welcome the upcoming summer tourist season.
Yellowstone Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said the park may have to be closed for a week because of the disaster, and the northern entrance may not reopen this summer. This has dealt an economic blow to neighboring communities.
The closure of the northern part of the park will prevent visitors from accessing areas such as Tower Fall, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Lamar Valley, the latter of which is known for its wildlife viewing of bears, wolves, bison, deer, and more.
According to the National Park Service, there are widespread power outages in the park. A preliminary assessment found that many roads in the park were either washed away or covered with rocks and mud. Some bridges were damaged. There were also many roads in the southern part of the park that were about to be submerged. More rain is in the forecast.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte announced a statewide disaster, with relief efforts focused on three counties after days of record rains sparked flooding, mudslides, and rockslides in the Greater Yellowstone area.
Floods along the Yellowstone River were nearly a meter higher than the highest recorded more than a century ago, according to the National Weather Service.
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
