‘I’ve never seen this much snow’: Yosemite closures start Friday and more are likely coming
SAN FRANCISCO – As the biggest snowpack on record starts to melt, rivers are rising and most of Yosemite Valley will close beginning Friday night due to flooding, the National Park Service announced this week.
The closures will begin at about 10 p.m. Friday and will last until Wednesday, May 3, or longer as employees brace for what’s expected to be high levels of water in parts of the park.
Already sandbags have been put out around the Yosemite Visitors Center and are coming out and some meadows are pooling up, said park spokesman Scott Gediman.
“I’ve been in Yosemite for 27 years and I’ve never seen this much snow,” he said.
Given the huge snowpack, it’s possible that there will be additional flooding and closures into June and possibly July, he said.
An April 1 snow survey showed that Yosemite’s snowpack is over 240% of its average, setting a record. Measuring above 8,000 feet, the snow is the deepest ever recorded, the park service said.
When the waters of the Merced River at Pohono Bridge reach 10 feet, they’re considered at flood stage.
“At ten feet, you start to get some water on the roads. At ten and a half feet, you start getting water in the campgrounds and at the Ahwahnee,” Gediman said. “Once we start getting to 11 feet, it’s a no-go.”
The river had reached eight feet Wednesday night.
“We’re looking at getting to flood stage up as high as 12 to 13 feet on Saturday,” he said.
Officials will assess the situation on Monday and Tuesday to see if the park can safely reopen Wednesday.
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Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757 – and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas, and food. Follow her on Twitter at @Saleen_Martin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.