YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–Officials for Yosemite National Park (YNP) have announced that the park will remain closed through Sunday, March 12, and possibly longer. Reopening on March 13 is a best-case scenario. Another storm system is forecast at the end of the week, which could further impact the park. Conditions will be evaluated on a daily basis, and the park will provide an update early next week.
Employee safety remains the top priority as park crews continue snow removal operations. YNP has received significant snowfall over the last two weeks. National Park Service and partner crews work hard to move snow, restore power, resupply stores, and perform numerous other tasks.
Yosemite Staff manually dug out fire hydrants. Picture courtesy of Yosemite National Park
Some tasks park crews are focused on right now:
- Plowing roads to two full lanes wide.
- Plowing parking lots and pullouts. Most parking lots are still under up to six feet of snow.
- Evaluating snow loading on trees near roads and facilities (which could cause trees to fall in popular areas).
- Locating and digging out hundreds of fire hydrants and propane tanks.
- Damage assessments on park buildings (mostly damage to chimneys and roof vents from snow sliding off roofs).
- Removing snow from rooftops to prevent structure collapse and danger to bystanders from snow sliding off roofs.
- Various other facilities and vehicles must be dug out, repaired, and/or resupplied.
The public is asked to check the park’s website and social media channels for the latest conditions.
A snow blower operating in Yosemite Valley. Picture courtesy of Yosemite National Park.
Snow removal operations in Yosemite Valley. Picture courtesy of Yosemite National Park
