MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES–The National Weather Service Hanford Office is predicting that a series of cold storm systems will continue to bring winter weather impacts to the foothill and mountain communities across our area. These storms are expected to include blizzard like conditions in the higher elevations of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada Mountains and snow levels down to 500 foot elevation. Several feet of snow are projected in many areas. We will be monitoring and reporting on the storm systems impacts throughout.
Check below for weather alerts, road conditions including traffic collisions, closures and hazards, school closures, power outages and other emergencies as they happen.
We will continue to update this article throughout the storm – stay safe!
Related article: Winter Storms, Wind, and Low Snow Expected This Week
Please scroll down for a special message from The Madera County Sheriff’s Office.
Updates 2.26.2023
School Closures
Mariposa County
Sierra Foothill Charter School
Tomorrow, Monday, February 27, 2023, SFCS will observe a snow day due to the significant weather conditions expected. We will reassess and let you know of any changes to Tuesday’s schedule. Stay warm and safe!
Mariposa County Unified School District
Power Outages
Approximately 12,000 customers are being affected by power outages in our communities. Per PG&E power outage map, the affected areas should be restored between Monday 2/27/23 @ 6pm and Tuesday 2/28/23 @ 11pm
Madera County
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Marina View Dr / Road 274
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.292293 -119.521181
11:41 AM THE PLOW IS UNABLE TO GET THROUGH DUE TO VEHICLES STUCK IN THE SNOW
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Silver Tip Ln / Fish Camp Ln
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.479248 -119.638662
11:37 AM 1 [1] SEVERAL VEHICLES STOPPED AND PLAYING IN THE SNOW
Mariposa County
If you are still without power due to the recent storms, a resource center has been established by the American Red Cross and will open at 9 AM and close at 6PM at the Mariposa Senior Center located at 5246 Spriggs Lane in Mariposa.
If you are in need of other support services, please call 209-259-1332, and a member of the Health and Human Services Agency team will assist you.
Madera County
A Red Cross Evacuation & Warming Center is open at Oakhurst Community Center (39800 Fresno Flats Rd, Oakhurst, CA 93644) for those impacted by power outages throughout Madera County. Red Cross volunteers are assisting with snacks, water, coffee, safe shelter and additional resources.
Residents are encouraged to visit for safe refuge, as well as a place to warm up and charge electronics. The center will be open until 6pm this evening.
Updates 2.25.2023
Madera County
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
PARK CLOSURE: Yosemite National Park is now closed through Wednesday, March 1, due to severe winter conditions. Travel on all park roads is restricted to administrative traffic only. Administrative traffic should use the El Portal Road (the extension of HWY 140 into the park) to access the park.
MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES
Another storm system will impact Central California early next week. Winter Storm Watches are in effect for the Sierra Nevada, adjacent foothills, and Kern County mountains. Snow levels will be as low as 2,000 feet. The majority of precipitation associated with this storm system will fall Monday afternoon and Monday night.
MARIPOSA COUNTY
#TrafficAlert #MariposaCounty One-way traffic control in effect on SR-140 from Trower Rd. to Mt Bullion Cutoff due to heavy snow and multiple vehicle incidents. No ETO at this time. Travel is not advised during storm. For traffic and road closure info. use quickmap.dot.ca.gov. #CaltransHQ
Madera County
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Road 417 / Quartz Mountain Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.212213 -119.690255
8:27 AM TREE BLOCKING THE RDWY
MARIPOSA COUNTY
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: 4900 Sr140
Loc Desc: JWO TOWN OF MARIPOSA Lat/Lon: 37.471741 -119.968442
NO DETAILS
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr140 / Yaqui Gulch Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.480639 -120.011423
8:27 AM OUT W/CALTRANS CLEARING TREE ACROSS ENTIRE ROAD
Message from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office
???? This storm isn’t over yet y’all- it’s the perfect weekend to cuddle up & get cozy inside ???? As a reminder, we request both residents and visitors to limit travel to ESSENTIAL only.
Road conditions have not been favorable, and will continue to be hazardous. When people drive vehicles on snow covered roads without chains or 4-wheel-drive and get stuck or crash, that creates an unnecessary strain on traffic routes, emergency responders and road crews. Stay safe, be responsible, and ride this storm out at home ????????
Thousands of customers are without power throughout Eastern Madera and Mariposa Counties with no end in sight. PG&E is reporting that the outages are weather related. You can check the status of your outage by entering your address at https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outages/map/
Updates 2.24.2023
Mariposa County
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Triangle Rd / Sr140
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.524369 -119.921180
Detail Information
8:10 PM 1 PGE ENROUTE
Madera County
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr41 / Allen Rd
Loc Desc: NB Lat/Lon: 37.387892 -119.633631
8:22 PM 1 [1] TREE IN ROADWAY COMPLETELY BLOCKING THE ROAD
Power Outages Madera County
There are widespread power outages throughout the Eastern Madera County communities including Oakhurst, Ahwahnee, Nippinawasee, North Fork, Bass Lake and Coarsegold. PG&E is stating the cause is the weather and have no estimated times of restoration.
Madera County
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr41 / Serpa Canyon Rd
Loc Desc: JNO Lat/Lon: 37.281158 -119.668311
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr49 / Marble Ct
Loc Desc: JSO Lat/Lon: 37.345997 -119.715529
7:39 PM RENTAL VEHICLE STUCK IN SNOW
Type: Trfc Collision-Unkn Inj
Location: Sr41 / Pony Express Ln
Loc Desc: NB JNO Lat/Lon: 37.264031 -119.691013
7:40 PM 1 NOTIFIED BY PASSERBY VEH / HANGING OFF THE CLIFF
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Sr41 / Victoria Ln
Loc Desc: SR41 AT VICTORIA Lat/Lon: 37.326423 -119.660069
Detail Information
7:40 PM 2 vehicles are involved and there is some lane blockage.
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr49 / Thunderhead Dr
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.406168 -119.734193
7:18 PM VEHICLES ARE ABLE TO GETR AROUND
7:16 PM VEHICLE STUCK IN THE SNOW
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Road 200 / Mountain Ln
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.210138 -119.559913
Detail Information
7:03 PM MULTIPLE VEHICLES STUCK IN THE SNOW
Power Outage North Fork Madera County
Approximately 1300 customers are without power in the North Fork area and surrounding communities. PG&E has assisted a crew and has no estimated time of restoration.
Madera County
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Sr49 / Road 601
Loc Desc: Nipinnawasee Lat/Lon: 37.403062 -119.733617
5:06 PM 1 [2] A VEHICLE HIT A BIG RIG THAT WAS BLOCKING THE ROAD. BIG RIG IS STILL IN THE ROADWAY.
Type: SPINOUT
Location: Road 600 / Apache Ranch Rd
Loc Desc: 600 JSO APACHE RANCH RD Lat/Lon: 37.330590 -119.771275
5:08 PM APPROXIMATELY 15 VEHS STUCK IN BOTH LANES
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Road 420 / Sr41
Loc Desc: 1/2 MILE JEO Lat/Lon: 37.293560 -119.648200
4:58 PM 4-5 VEHICLES STUCK AND BLOCKING THE ROAD
Yosemite National Park
5:14 pm, 2/24/23
140 temp closed at Parkline no eta
5:13pm, 2/24/23
Wawona Rd (Hwy 41) and Big Oak Flat Rd (Hwy 120) are both closed overnight. Travel not advised on other roads.
Updates: 209/372-0200 (1, 1).
Madera County
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Sr49 / Goldside
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.344236 -119.711684
4:33 PM 2 vehicles are involved and unable to move at this time.
Yosemite National Park
At the time of publishing this post, The Big Oak Flat Road (the extension of HWY 120 within the park) is closed. Meanwhile, both the El Portal Road (the extension of HWY 140 within the park) and Wawona Road (the extension of HWY 41 within the park) are at R3 conditions, meaning that tire chains are required on all vehicles, no exceptions. All roads within Yosemite Valley are also at R3, and additional closures are possible. Those who must travel to and from the park today should use HWY 140; however, we strongly discourage travel due to the severe winter conditions which are forecast to continue over the weekend and into next week.
Please call our road status phoneline at 209/372-0200 (then press 1 and 1 again) for road conditions within the park. For conditions on the roads outside park boundaries, you can call Caltrans’s phone line at 1-800/427-7623 or visit roads.dot.ca.gov. Read more about tire chains here: go.nps.gov/chains
Power Outage Madera County
PG&E ASSESSMENT CREW IS EN ROUTE TO THE OUTAGE.
Our preliminary determination is that your outage was caused by the weather.
Start time
February 24 | 2:43 PM PST
Estimated restoration To Be Announced
Customers affected 578
Power Outage Mariposa County
PG&E HAS ASSIGNED A CREW TO ASSESS THE OUTAGE.
Our preliminary determination is that your outage was caused by the weather.
Start time
February 24 | 3:20 PM PST
Estimated restoration To Be Announced
Customers affected 20
Madera County
Type: Defective Traffic Signals
Location: Sr41 / Sr49
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.331117 -119.655526
4:11 PM 1 [3] TRAFFIC BACKED UP. VEHICLES RUNNING THE LIGHT.
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Road 222 / Pettitt Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.352173 -119.602782
3:55 PM UNK DESC OF VEHICLE
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Central Camp Rd / Road 274
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.287882 -119.519592
Type: SPINOUT
Location: Sr41 / Road 630
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.429965 -119.639256
3:44 PM VEHICLE STUCK IN THE SNOW
Mariposa County
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr49 / Allred Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.458866 -119.916411
Detail Information
3:43 PM VEHICLES GETTING STUCK IN SNOW NOT ABLE TO GET OUT
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Triangle Rd / Sr140
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.524369 -119.921180
3:37 PM GREEN SUBARU STUCK IN SNOW BANK
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Sr49 / French Camp Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.505239 -119.995501
3:30 PM A vehicle is stuck in the snow. Declined a tow truck. Paaserbys are trying to help move the vehicle.
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr140 / Yaqui Gulch Rd
Loc Desc: EB 140 JEO YAQUI GULCH Lat/Lon: 37.480639 -120.011423
3:24 PM 4 Vehicles blocking both lanes.
Madera County
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Road 274 / Putney Place Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.247816 -119.506169
2:37 PM TREE DOWN ACROSS THE RDWY
Mariposa County
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr140 / Williams Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.496425 -119.973201
2:34 PM MULTIPLE VEHS IN RDWY DUE TO SNOW
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Ashworth Rd / Old Oak Ln
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.425816 -119.904665
2:27 PM TREE DOWN BLKING ENTIRE RDWY
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr49 / Woodland
Loc Desc: 1 MI JSO Lat/Lon: 37.445481 -119.845000
2:25 PM A Caltrans Plow is blocking the road with several vehicles stuck behind it.
Madera County
Type: Trfc Collision-Unkn Inj
Location: Sr41 / Victoria Ln
Loc Desc: POSS 2 MI JSO Lat/Lon: 37.326423 -119.660069
2:13 PM POSSIBLY A COUPLE OF VEHICLES
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr41 / Jewel Vista Dr
Loc Desc: SB Lat/Lon: 37.084705 -119.757039
1:42 PM A tree is hanging down into the roadway. Requesting Caltrans with a chainsaw.
Mariposa County
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Sr140 / Sr49
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.493090 -119.972695
1:46 PM VEH INTO A DITCH
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Sr49 / French Camp Rd
Loc Desc: NB 49 AT FRENCH CAMP Lat/Lon: 37.505239 -119.995501
1:50 PM SEVERAL VEHS STUCK IN THE Snow. BOTH LANES BLOCKED.
Type: Mud/Dirt/Rock
Location: Sr140 / Hites Mine Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.669087 -119.818235
2:51 PM VEHS ARE GOING AROUNDBLOCKING THE EB LANE
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr49 / Worman Rd
Loc Desc: SB JSO CO LN Lat/Lon: 37.422521 -119.724980
1:23 PM 8-10 VEH STUCK INCLUDING 2 SEMI TRUCKS. REQUESTING CALTRANS FOR PLOWS
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr140 / E Whitlock Rd
Loc Desc: EB JWO Lat/Lon: 37.521456 -119.938953
12:45 PM THERE ARE 6-7 VEHS STUCK
Madera County
Type: Trfc Collision-Unkn Inj
Location: Sr41 / Calvin Ln
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.287727 -119.652108
8:51 AM
Type: Trfc Collision-
No Inj Location: Sr41 / Serpa Canyon Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.281158 -119.668311
8:45 AM a vehicle has slid off the road. A tow truck is enroute.
Mariposa County
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr140 / Ferguson Slide Bridge
Loc Desc: JWO Lat/Lon: 37.604955 -119.966057
NO DETAILS
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: Sr49 / W Whitlock Rd
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.507028 -120.00316
7:27 AM Multiple vehicles are stuck in the snow. A tow truck is enroute.
Sierra Tel Deadwood Webcam as of 7:30am this morning.
Updates 2.23.2023
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Sr41 / Tenaya Lodge
Loc Desc: SR41 AT TENAYA LODGE Lat/Lon: 37.473991 -119.638465
A jeep is involved in a traffic collision causing some lane blockage. A tow truck is enroute. No injuries are being reported.
Good Afternoon MCUSD Staff and Families,
Tomorrow, Friday, February 24, 2023, all MCUSD school sites will observe an Emergency Day schedule.
This decision has been made taking into consideration the information and collaboration with our County, State, and Federal partners and in anticipation of 3-7 inches of snow tonight, with an additional 3-5 inches of snow tomorrow.
We hope you all will stay safe and warm this weekend, and we hope we will be able to welcome everyone back safely next week.
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Road 223 / Road 420
Loc Desc: ROAD 223 AT ROAD 420 Lat/Lon: 37.287946 -119.581985
A single vehicle has rolled over and a tow truck is enroute. No lane blockage is being reported. Please use caution in the area.
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Sr49 / Sr140
Loc Desc: 3 MILES JSO MARIPOSA Lat/Lon: 37.483157 -119.963799
A vehicle has slid off the road. A tow truck is enroute.
Type: Trfc Collision-No Inj
Location: Sr41 / Road 630
Loc Desc: JNO Lat/Lon: 37.429965 -119.639256
Two vehicles are involved and there is some lane blockage.
Type: Traffic Hazard
Location: 45216 – 45291 Sr41
Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 37.437196 -119.639214
Several vehicles are stuck in the snow. Tow trucks and CalTrans are enroute.
Mariposa County offices will be CLOSED today, Thursday, February 23rd, 2023.
Emergency staffing such as Public Works and Law Enforcement teams will be out in the community clearing roadways and ensuring public safety. Other staff will be working remotely to continue to support our community.
BADGER PASS OPERATIONAL UPDATE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023
Good morning Badger Pass! We will be CLOSED today (2/23) due to the Badger Pass Road closure this morning. We are getting SNOW SNOW SNOW! We will continue to keep you updated on this page as this storm rolls through. Stay safe out there!
Chain Controls
This highway information is the latest reported as of Thursday, February 23rd, 2023 at 06:48 AM.
SR 41 [IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM 3 MI SOUTH OF COARSEGOLD (MADERA CO) TO 0.5 MI SOUTH OF THE YOSEMITE NAT’L PARK BOUNDARY (MARIPOSA CO)
SR 49 [IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM THE MADERA/MARIPOSA CO LINE TO 5.2 MI NORTH OF THE MADERA/MARIPOSA CO LINE
SR 140 [IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM NORTH JCT OF SR 49 /IN MARIPOSA/ TO MIDPINES (MARIPOSA CO)
School Closure
Mariposa County Unified School District
The National Weather Service is forecasting several major winter storms to impact Madera County throughout the week. With the ongoing snow, conditions are likely to be hazardous throughout much of the county.
The Madera County Office of Emergency Services would like to remind residents and visitors to use good judgement when traveling into and around the mountain areas. If you decide to travel, exercise extreme caution and be prepared with proper safety equipment, including snow chains. We also recommend packing plenty of food, a good deal of water, and warm clothing in your vehicle. Traveling with GPS, flashlights, and a shovel is also recommended.
The majority of the mountain area is expected to experience snowfall. Check weather and road conditions before you go. Our number one priority is the safety of the public. When people drive vehicles on snow covered roads without chains or 4-wheel-drive and get stuck or crash, that creates an unnecessary strain on traffic routes, emergency responders and road crews.
County road crews will be working to maintain access and keep roads clear, with a priority on main routes. We would like to remind the public that travelers accept personal responsibility for their safety and those of others when choosing to recreate in these conditions, and they should keep in mind that rescue is never a guarantee.–Madera County Sheriff’s Office
