Competition time. Welcome to the 39th Tioga pass Prognosticator. Spring opening 2025

[Mark Sedenquist]

Yeah, spring is just around the corner. It will be mid-80's (27 degrees C.) this week in Las Vegas and 100+ (38 degrees C.) in Death Valley this week. I am having breakfast at the DV resort on Wednesday morning -- so I will report in about the conditions then.

Snow on Thursday, eh?

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Yes Mark, a little different up there to the 100F you experienced in Death valley yesterday!


Photo courtesy of the Yosemite conservancy

The first part of March produced 61 inches of new snow at 8,600ft in Tuolumne Meadows, which leaves the central Sierra at 90% of average snow depth.

Dave

[Mark Sedenquist]

Nicer day today. Not as clear as some days, but still blue skies prevail.


March 29th at 11:15 am PDT -- photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy

Check out the flowing water on the Yosemite Falls webcam! Most of the snow has already melted in the valley.

And the stream level at the Happy Isles Bridge gauge IS MUCH HIGHER THAN LAST WEEK!

[Southwest Dave]

The National Weather service has released an urgent Winter Weather message.

Including the cities of Florence Lake, Lake Wishon, Wawona,
Huntington Lake, Devils Postpile, Tuolumne Meadows, Shaver Lake,
and Lake Thomas Edison
1215 PM PDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM SUNDAY TO 11 PM PDT
TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 to
2 feet. Winds gusting as high as 65 mph.

* WHERE...Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge, Upper San Joaquin River, and
Yosemite NP outside of the valley.

* WHEN...From 11 PM Sunday to 11 PM PDT Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The
hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening
commutes. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage.

The storm could persist through Wednesday and has the potential to add 3ft of new snow.

I just took a look Mark, Yosemite Falls really are flowing hard and fast!

Dave

[Southwest Dave]

It's been snowing quite heavy for a few hours now.

Image courtesy of the Yosemite conservancy

Dave

Update. Still snowing quite heavily at 3.25pm today. (The 'Hump' has grown some more)

[Mark Sedenquist]

The most surprising thing about this current weather is that the weather in Las Vegas has turned cool again. Not much over 60-degrees F today and we had snow in the local mountains last night!

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Snow storm seems to be abating


April 3rd at 4 pm -- Courtesy of Yosemite Conservancy

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Another beautiful day!

April 4th at 2:40 pm PDT -- Courtesy of Yosemite Conservancy

[AZBuck]

Today, Tucson's temperature officially reached 100°F, known locally as "Ice Out on the Rillito", the Rillito being a local dry 'river' bed.

AZBuck

[Southwest Dave]

Although there was a top up of snow since the final snow survey, the results are in from Yosemite NP.

Final snow survey results are in! Rangers completing the April 1 survey found the Merced River basin at 75% of average and the Tuolumne River basin at 72% of average, based on the snow's water content. Although the April snow survey is usually completed when snowpack is at its peak, more snow has fallen since measurements were taken. Warmer, drier days are on the way, and spring weather will play a large role in determining conditions this summer.

The temperatures are higher than average, causing the snowpack to melt away quicker. Yosemite Falls are flowing nicely, as seen below from the Yosemite conservancy webcam.



The Plow teams should be deployed soon to start the clearing operation to get the road open, it's a big task that can take several weeks and progress will depend largely on the weather ahead.

Dave

[Mark Sedenquist]

Two weeks ago, I thought the outlook for the the snowpack was going to be better.

Should be an interesting puzzle getting the road open again.

Mark