Storms, Shoulder-High Snow Will Close Yosemite National Park for Another Week

Yosemite National Park won't reopen for another week due to the storms' continued accumulation of shoulder-high snow. Its scheduled reopening was postponed from the start of the following week to the weekend.

Closed for Another Week

The park's entrances have all been locked since Saturday, February 25, and a reopening was planned for Monday, March 13. According to park officials, it will likely be closed for longer than Thursday, March 16. The best possible scenario, according to park officials, is a partial reopening on the 17th. The area is currently experiencing a second storm system, and the multiple storms predicted for the coming week may have further effects on the park.

Conditions will be assessed daily, according to park officials, and an update will be given late next week. Over the past few weeks, the park has experienced heavy snowfall. To reopen as soon as it is secure, the National Park Service and affiliated teams are working hard.

Dealing with Shoulder-High Snow

Park crews are concentrating on tasks for park officials, such as plowing roads to two complete lanes wide. Parking lots and pullouts will also be plowed since many parking lots are still covered in up to six feet of snow.

The team will assess the risk of trees falling in busy areas from snow loading on trees close to facilities and roads. Additionally, they have to find and dig out hundreds of propane tanks and fire hydrants.

There will be an evaluation of the buildings in the park for damage, most of which will be to chimneys and roof vents caused by snow sliding off roofs. Another crucial task is clearing snow from rooftops to avoid building collapse and potential danger to onlookers from snow falling off roofs. Some numerous other buildings and vehicles need to be dug up, fixed, or restocked. In case of a flood, there will be further contingency planning.

Employee safety is still the top priority, according to park officials, as crews work to prepare for flooding and continue snow removal operations, MyMotherLode.com reports.

According to CBS News, the winter rangers of the Tuolumne Meadows were reported to be in good health by the park despite having to deal with 133 inches of fresh snow since February 21.

On March 1, officials decided to permanently close the park due to the harsh winter weather. Since then, it has remained closed to visitors.

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Yosemite National Park

According to the National Park Service, Yosemite National Park is more than just a large valley; it is also a monument to human foresight, the resilience of life, the power of granite, the force of glaciers, and the serenity of the High Sierra.

Yosemite National Park, which was first protected in 1864, is renowned for its waterfalls, but it also contains a vast wilderness area, deep valleys, ancient giant sequoia trees, grand meadows, and much more within its nearly 1,200 square miles.

Winters in Yosemite

The Tioga Road is closed during the winter months, but Yosemite Valley and Wawona are always accessible by car. Vehicles are not allowed between Crane Flat and Tioga Pass after it closes for the year, including in the Tuolumne Meadows region.

The Glacier Point and Badger Pass Road would be plowed to the Badger Pass Ski Area, where cross-country and downhill skiing are both popular, from mid-December through early April even though the road to Glacier Point is also closed. On park roads, tire chains are required during the winter.