Spring Rite of Passage: Tioga Pass Prognosticator #11

[Southwest Dave]

All roads into Yosemite temporarily closed.

National park service.

All roads leading into Yosemite National Park are temporarily closed due to snow, ice, mudslides, fallen trees and downed power lines. In the last 24 hours, a winter storm has dropped over 3.5 feet of snow throughout the park in areas including Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Crane Flat. Call 209/372-0200 for up-to-date road conditions.

For National park current info click here.

[Southwest Dave]

This was the view of Half dome from the Sentinel Dome Web cam after a heavy fall of snow.



And this is the view today from the same Camera, Yikes !



I don't ever recall the view being blocked like that before, some serious amounts of snow !

[Mark Sedenquist]

I'd be willing to bet that the fixed position of the camera had been compromised in some way. Like, perhaps, now it is pointing down towards the ground. But in any case, good work on the photo captures!

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Up to another 3 feet of snow above 7000feet.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Winter Storm Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
505 AM PDT WED MAR 23 2011

...ANOTHER PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM TO IMPACT THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
INTERIOR...

.THE NEXT WINTER LIKE STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH
TONIGHT. HEAVY SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED ABOVE THE 4000 FOOT ELEVATION.
ANOTHER STORM WILL REACH THE AREA THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND IMPACT
THE AREA THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

CAZ096-097-232015-
/O.CON.KHNX.WS.W.0008.000000T0000Z-110325T1200Z/
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
505 AM PDT WED MAR 23 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM PDT FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM PDT FRIDAY
FOR THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: FROM 12 TO 18 INCHES ABOVE 4000 FEET AND
UP TO 3 FEET ABOVE 7000 FEET.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 4000 FEET.

* TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. SNOW WILL
DIMINISH THURSDAY MORNING...THEN INCREASE IN INTENSITY THURSDAY
AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE OVERNIGHT.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: CAMP NELSON...GIANT FOREST...JOHNSONDALE...
LODGEPOLE...SHAVER LAKE...YOSEMITE VALLEY.

* WINDS: GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* IMPACTS: SNOW COVERED ROADS WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS DRIVING
CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLE ROAD CLOSURES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL
MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

Originally posted by Mark Sedenquist.
I'd be willing to bet that the fixed position of the camera had been compromised in some way.

It's quite possible, but I'm not totally convinced having looked at the skyline in other images from the cam. Either that though, or a huge snow drift formed on the ledge.

[sputnik]

Has the Pass ever failed to open?

[glc]

According to Caltrans, 41 is open with R-2 chain controls and 140 was reopened about 3 hours ago, but the NPS site still shows all Yosemite roads closed.

The pass has always opened eventually.

[Southwest Dave]

Has the Pass ever failed to open?

Not that I know of and certainly not since they started plowing the road, which takes a huge effort to get it open as early as possible in the year, usually between Mid May and sometime in June. [I use the word "early" lightly.]

[glc]

Well, they opened 120 and 140 from the west this morning for day use (7am to 7pm), chains required. All campgrounds are closed. However, another storm is on its way in right now, 12 to 18 inches above 4000 feet and 3 feet over 7000 feet predicted. The Sentinel Dome camera is nothing but snow now - it has to be pointed down at the ground!

[CalOldBlue]

If you look at the current camera shot, there appears to be an icicle in the upper right hand corner, hanging straight down.

I think the camera is fine; it just has a huge drift in front of it.

[Southwest Dave]

Things have settled back down in Yosemite for the moment and the current Sentinel dome camera image with blue sky in the background, would suggest there is nothing wrong with the camera angle, just a heck of a lot of snow !

The last update from the Meadows on Tioga pass was on the 23rd March and reported the highest recorded snow depth in 5 years. There has been a heck of a lot of new snow since then, so it will be interesting to see what the next report brings. Snow depth at the East entrance kiosk is reported to be over 15 feet !