MARIPOSA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is planning a preemptive closure of State Route 140 into Yosemite National Park to protect public safety in the Ferguson Fire burn scar area due to a storm event that they say is likely to impact the roadway.
The National Weather Service is forecasting 1-3 inches of rain in a one-hour period sometime between 1 and 4 p.m. today. The closure will be from Cedar Lodge to the Bug Hostel/ Bear Creek Bridge.
Another storm event is expected between 7 and 9 p.m. tonight and 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected in one hour. Crews will again preemptively close the roadway.
For updated road conditions check the Caltrans website or call 1-800-427-7623.
After the storm events have passed, Caltrans crews will clear any debris and inspect the road before reopening to traffic. It is expected that these will be short duration closures depending on the extent of any damage and repairs needed.
Also, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has alerted residents that at 1:15 p.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across portions of the Ferguson Fire burn scar. Flash flooding with debris flows is expected to begin shortly. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.
Some locations that will experience flooding include Yosemite National Park, Bootjack, El Portal, Jerseydale, Gin Flat and Crane Flat.
UPDATE 11:57 p.m. Wednesday – The Flash Flood Watch has been lifted.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep terrain, especially in and around these areas.
