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.......the blast from this latest cold front has closed the pass and the 'waiting game' continues !
From Caltrans.
Quote:
SR 120
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
IS CLOSED FROM CRANE FLAT TO 5 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395
/TIOGA PASS/ (TUOLUMNE, MONO CO) - DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS -
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE
The Pass remains closed for the time being and there is an advisory in place for strong winds at this moment. Reports suggest there is only 3-5 inches of snow on the ground and with clear days forecast ahead, it would suggest a good chance of it re-opening yet again. The weather is set to warm up a touch on Wednesday and Thursday. Is it enough to thaw out the pass ? Watch this space !
and the Tioga pass is no longer listed as closed on the Caltrans site ! The Yosemite site still advises to 'Call' before travelling, but for now I think we can presume it is open again !
Settled weather forecast for the remainder of the week with a slight chance of snow forecast for Monday [12th] and temps dropping away again.
It would be "historic" if I won the TPP...
Thanks for the updates.
Mark
I would have been more surprised if the road hadn't opened again. The Sentinel Dome webcam showed more snow back in Oct and Nov. If the road doesn't "close" this winter, do we all lose or win?
If it doesn't close this winter, you, I and the rest of this state can look forward to 'bathing' with wet-wipes this summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by CAnative
Sort of like living in Las Vegas.... Where water rationing is a year-round practice. Makes me a little crazy to see how Los Angelenos use water. Water that originated miles and miles from Los Angeles.
Yeah, we sure would like to see another great year of snow pack in the Sierra!
Mark
I am the new guy but have had many trips to Yosemite and Tioga.
My guess is December 23 at 9 AM. Indeed very late historically, but just in time for Christmas eve.
CAguy90230
Hello and welcome to the RTA forums CAguy !
Good luck with prediction and enjoy the RTA site and all it has to offer !
LOSE ! lol. [Now that would be just as historical as Mark winning ! ] We are just one good snowstorm away from permanent closure now, but when ?Quote:
Originally posted by CAnative. If the road doesn't "close" this winter, do we all lose or win?
What I find interesting is Ebbetts and Sonora are still closed - they haven't been open for about a month or so.
Caltrans tends to close Ebbetts early -- snow removal chores there are a bear. But Sonora might be "closed" on paper, but I know someone who drove over the pass recently.
Mark
They both simply say closed by snow - not for the winter.
Yosemite National Park website currently states that Tioga Pass and Glacier Point roads are open but adds a closure date and time for Glacier Point road.
Quote:
Glacier Point Road Open
Closes Sunday, 12/11 at 6pm. No overnight parking
I wonder if they let Ebbetts close early for the snowmobile season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist
Utahtea
Got a shock when I looked on the Yosemite opening and closing dates page. I'm sure the link will update automatically and be corrected, but at this moment in time it reads something like this;
2011 > Tioga road > Opened June 18th > Closed November 18th [and Glacier closed November 19th. ]
The pass remains open according to Caltrans and the Yosemite 'Current conditions page'.
It also mentions the closing of Glacier point road on 12/11 at 6pm but remains listed as open today !! Confused ? You betcha !!
Hmmm, yeah Sheriff Dave, that's an interesting observation since the page you referenced has heretofore been the official date page used in this contest...
Mark
Looking at the web cams today, the weather looks dry and cool. No wonder that the road is still open! This is starting to get worrisome (in terms of the lack of snow pack).
Mark
Recapping....
December 12th at 4 pm....Southwest Dave
December 13th at 8:30 am.....Mark Sedenquist
December 14th at noon.......glc
December 15th at 3 pm....CAnative
December 16th at 10am.. Midwest Michael
December 18th at 9:00 am....Utahtea
December 23rd at 9:00 am....CAguy90230
December 25th at 9:00 am....CalOldBlue
December 29th at 8:30 am.....Mark Sedenquist ****
Well at least I still have a few hours left to get it right !
Actually looking at the Sentinel cam right now, it looks as though the weather is closing in. There is a slight chance of snow this afternoon and through the night into tomorrow. Although there is little accumulation expected, any moisture could be hazardous as temps are dipping to 11F [-11C] with wind chill values at Zero F [-17C] into Tuesday.
Forever hopeful !
It's been closed ! :-)
From Caltrans.
Now we have to wait and see if it will reopen yet again and whether or not the Yosemite site alters the official closing date page. As always, it's that listing that finally decides the correct date for this contest , er -even though it's wrong at the moment!Quote:
SR 120
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
IS CLOSED FROM CRANE FLAT TO 5 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395 /TIOGA PASS/
(TUOLUMNE, MONO CO) - DUE TO SNOW - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE
ROUTE
I know the contest is based on the list of official dates but the press release announcing the opening of the road was made (under Park News) before they listed the Nov 18th closing.Quote:
December 07, 2011
Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park to Reopen (2011)
After a temporary closure, the Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park will reopen to the public at 3:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, December 07, 2011. The Tioga Road, the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada in the northern portion of the park, has been temporarily closed due a high wind event in the Yosemite area.
Oh it's definitely an error and it wouldn't be the first time I have seen dates posted and then been retracted. The list has always been based on the last day it was open/day it closed, and even if they had decided to change that to the first day without telling anyone, it would still be wrong as the pass first closed in October. [In other words not an option either]
Joke mode on>] Of course I'm not ruling out foul play, George may have friends in high places !! LOL ]> Joke mode off.
I always thought that George had the "fix" in on this feature....
Light dusting of snow on the upper ridges -- blue skies today at Yosemite.
I wish I had the fix in - I need some revenge for last year - the pass was closed for ONE DAY last October, the day I was there and wanted to drive it!
I have now entered a query on the Yosemite Facebook page with regards to the closing date listed. No response yet, but thought it might at least offer a 'Heads up' to the error of their ways. ;-)
Update.
A high wind warning in the Sierras is in place at the moment and the pass is still closed.
They have now responded to my query.
That was a quick response, Kudo's to them, and on we go !!Quote:
Yosemite National Park. You are correct and I've removed that date. It's unclear if or when the road might reopen (but, in either case, the seasonal closure of it wasn't November 18).
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l-12-15-11.jpg
(Photo Courtesy of Yosemite Conservancy, December 15th)
I'd really prefer to start seeing some heavy snow falling about now!
Mark
The weather forecast through to next Thursday is looking very settled !
Guess what, Caltrans no longer lists Tioga as closed which can only mean one thing...................
............It's Open !!!!
Wow, unbelievable ! To think it might be open for travel on Christmas day. ??
Moving on to next year --- January 1, 2012
There is no sign at all of the weather breaking. Not only are there blue sky's forecast right up to [and beyond] Christmas day, it's actually getting slightly warmer. With no snow and less risk of icey conditions threatening a closure, a Christmas opening looks an almost certainty !!
Yes, it's looking likely that we're going for a record-breaking closing date.
So, Friday, January 6th at Noon.
Recapping those still current....
December 23rd at 9:00 am....CAguy90230
December 25th at 9:00 am....CalOldBlue
December 29th at 8:30 am.....Mark Sedenquist
January 1st at no-time..........CAnative
January 6th at Noon.....Mark Sedenquist
The following members are listed on the Poll (above) as being January 1st to the 7th: but this is a result of a boo-boo by me in editing the poll. None of these members have submitted active prognosticator dates beyond December 20th...
deniserows,
Pelle,
Squidly-Enthusiast,
Utahtea
....And I adjusted the poll length!
Mark
Put me down for Jan 4th at 4pm, please.
A time as well ..... 3 pm on January 1, 2012
This is really getting strange - the Caltrans site this morning says Ebbetts is OPEN but Sonora is still closed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist
If I guess "Will not close" would that mean I would also win the annual Spring Opening contest too?
@glc: Ebbets is OPEN? That is scary bad in terms of snowpack
@Michael: Sheriff Dave is going to have to write some new rules to incorporate such an entry if this keeps up much longer....
Mark
The "no closure" concept was raised earlier. A long-range forecast months ago predicted a long Fall with a late cold and wet Spring.
What can I say, Mark?
Quote:
SR 4
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.
SR 108
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
IS CLOSED FROM 26.4 MI EAST OF STRAWBERRY (TUOLUMNE CO) TO 5.4 MI WEST OF
THE JCT OF US 395 (MONO CO) /SONORA PASS/ - DUE TO SNOW - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED
TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE
It's all weird. This page shows that the following passes are still open!
Ebbetts Pass SR 4
Monitor Pass SR 89
Sonora Pass SR 108
Tioga Pass SR 120
June Lake Loop SR 158
Lassen Loop SR 89 Closed on November 23rd.
Mammoth Lakes SR 203 Closed on November 4th
Lake Sabrina to Aspendell Closed on November 22nd
.......but I like your style !
Only if you can guess the correct time it didn't re-open !?!!? lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Midwest Michael
Until we have a closure, we can't have an opening contest. That might be tricky, but you could consider your next prediction being in 2012. No not January or February, but November/December 2012 ! ;-) It is named 'Prognosticator 12' and not Prognosticator 2011 after-all and it has to close sometime in the next few years. LOL.
It's gotta close this winter, HASN'T IT !?!??
These records here date back to 1933. The latest closure is listed as January 1 2000 [1999 season] but that doesn't fall in line with the Yosemite sites official date of Nov 23 for that year. The next latest closing recorded was in 1976 and was listed as closed on December 29.