Tioga Pass Prognosticator #7

[Labyrinth85]

What are the chances of Tioga pass being open June 20th? I really want to drive through it, it looks beautiful...

[Southwest Dave]

What are the chances of Tioga pass being open June 20th? I really want to drive through it, it looks beautiful...

I would say very good, but nobody knows for sure and the reason for this thread is to have a try at predicting the opening. Using the info in the first post and peoples guess you have as much chance of winning as the rest of us.

Good luck !

[Oh, Yes it is absolutely stunning scenery]

[exodus]

Hello all,

I'm new here and ran across this thread because I have a vested interest in when Tioga Pass opens this year. My buddy and I are doing our yearly fishing trip and we selected the saddlebag lake basin area. However, we're going June 24 - 28 and I'm a little concerned the road won't be open. :)

One thing I don't see listed here is snowfall history. In looking at past opening dates there is somewhat of a correlation between total snowfall for a season and opening dates (makes sense anyway right?). One can go here to see the current snow depth at Tioga pass.

I'm not quite ready to make my prediction, but am excited to have found this thread. :)

Cheers,
Brian
<><

[Southwest Dave]

Hello Brian and welcome to the R.T.A. forums !

I think the odds are in your favor so fingers crossed for you!

Thanks for adding the link and enjoy the Roadtrip America site !

Dave.

[Although it looks like fresh snow on today's web cam with more forecasted]

[exodus]

Thanks for the warm welcome, Dave! :)

It's really hard to judge at this point when it will open. With the unseasonably high temperatures in the last couple of weeks, the melt-off was quite significant, but these new storms are dumping some fresh snow. That said, the water content looks to be less than last year when looking at the graphs. So, heck if I know.

It's amazing the difference in snow pack at Tuolumne compared to the Tioga Pass station just a few miles away. There's almost twice as much snow! Sometimes three times! :) I guess that extra elevation really makes a difference. Heh.

Anyway, here's to a great summer ahead on the road! :)

[Mark Sedenquist]

I see from looking at the "live" photo (see page one of this thread) that there is fresh snow on the ground today.... My date in May is looking doubtful now! Maybe it will be a June opening this year.

mark

[exodus]

Yeah, I was surprised to see that too. But looking at the snow data, that accumulation has almost already melted. :)

There's some new, key information from here: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm today.

It says:

The Glacier Point Road tentatively may open on Friday, April 24, conditions permitting.

The Mariposa Grove Road tentatively may open on Friday, April 17, conditions permitting.

If Glacier Point Rd. does open that early, it will be the earliest it has opened in 15 years (and possibly before that). It looks also like we're going to have above normal temperatures starting Friday through Wednesday. That said, it also looks like there could be some snow showers at the higher elevations at the end of next week, but that's pretty far out.

What can I say I'm an engineer. Can't get enough data... ;)

[PNW Judy]

We have had two brief snowfalls that didn't really stick but sure tried in April. This has never happened before, at least not in anybody's memory around here.

So I'm saying June 12th. No reason, just a wild stab.

[exodus]

I just looked at the Tioga Pass web cam again... um, I think that's one side of the road they are plowing there! :D

[exodus]

Definitely plowing going on up there now. Check out the webcam to see for yourself! :)