An unusually enormous amount of snowmelt is forcing most of Northern California’s famous Yosemite National Park to close down from 10:00 p.m. Friday, due to forecasted flooding. The closure is set to continue through at least May 3, but possibly longer, depending upon how conditions develop.
The reason for this comes from California’s historically high precipitation levels this past winter, which formed an abnormally massive snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains (reportedly the largest on record), fast followed by an early-season heat wave arriving this week, with temperatures set to reach 15 degrees above normal.
Predictions put the park’s Merced River above flood-stage levels, rising to 10 feet or more by Thursday night. The area affected by closures extends east of the El Capitan Crossover, the roadway that crosses the Merced River just east of El Capitan, and there will be no visitor (including pedestrian) access available east of that road. The shutdown includes such spots as Yosemite Village, Curry Village, The Ahwahnee, Mist Trail and Mirror Lake.
The park announced in a tweet, “Reservations for lodging and campgrounds in eastern Yosemite Valley will automatically be canceled and refunded. Wilderness permits can be rescheduled to alternate trailheads as space allows.” Cancellations will impact Curry Village, Housekeeping Camp, Yosemite Valley Lodge, The Ahwahnee, Camp 4, and Upper, Lower and North Pines, said the Sacramento Bee.
Certain areas of the park will remain open to the public, including western Yosemite Valley Wawona, Mariposa Grove (via hike only), Hetch Hetchy and the Crane Flat area. But, the park cautioned that any prospective visitors will encounter, “Heavy congestion, traffic delays, and extremely limited parking,” and that no off-road parking is permitted. To those who remain undeterred, it said to expect, “Very limited opportunities for hiking and other recreation.”
Yosemite officials also advised the public that no services will be available in western Yosemite Valley during this period, and admonished any potential visitors to recreate responsibly and “avoid any unnecessary risk”. The park went on to warn, “It's possible emergency response could be delayed,” and, "Rivers in Yosemite will be flowing very high and will be extremely dangerous. Do not enter or approach them."
The closure comes during the time of year that, as the park’s website points out is typically "The perfect season for waterfalls" thanks to warmer temperatures that start to gradually thaw the snowpack. The month of May also traditionally kicks off Yosemite’s busy season, which lasts until October.
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain is calling the current situation—proceeding from a premature heat wave on the heels of a record-cold winter with intense snowfall—“The Big Melt”, as pointed out by Lonely Planet. In a blog post this week, he presaged, "Snowmelt flood risk from this pulse will likely peak this weekend into early next week."
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