Tioga Pass Prognosticator #15

[CAnative]

Glacier Point road is CLOSED! (posted on YNP website)

So much for my first opening guess (today) but still a few more days until my second date.

[Southwest Dave]

The Glacier point road is now open according to the latest from Yosemite.

[glc]

Ebbetts and Monitor are reopened, Sonora is still closed as is Lee Vining Canyon.

[CAnative]

The Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park will open for the season tomorrow, Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. for all vehicular traffic. The Tioga Road, bounded on both sides by State Highway 120, is the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada.

Despite storm this week. plan is to open tomorrow!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Seems about time for Sheriff Dave to post a recap of the current predictions?

Looks like it will miss my birthday by one day.

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

It's not confirmed open yet on the official site, but it looks well and truly an odds on favourite that George [glc] will claim the prize for th 2013 Spring opening with his prediction of May 11th.

Dave.

[CAnative]

YNP website listed road as open when I looked at 11:15 am. So congratulations are in order for George. For the future, os ot the opening of the west end or east end (Tioga Entrance gate) of the road?

[Southwest Dave]

The road is listed as open on the 'current conditions' page and there is little doubt to the opening date, but we have to wait for the official date to be announced on the 'Opening and closing dates' page on the Yosemite site before we can say for sure. [Which hopefully won't be long]

Dave.

[Southwest Dave]

For the future, os ot the opening of the west end or east end (Tioga Entrance gate) of the road?

It is when the road is open to all vehicular traffic and you can drive the entire lenght of the road. [ie.both gates]

Dave.

[Southwest Dave]

When I was checking to see the latest info [still no official date confirmation] I checked the weather for the region and when I saw a 'Special weather Statement' I though we might be looking at a temporary closure and a late storm, but oh no ! It is a warning against possible heat related illness as temps could rise to 100 degrees in the central San Joaquin valley and record breaking highs in Bakersfield and Fresno.

Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
815 PM PDT SAT MAY 11 2013

CAZ089>099-130400-
WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS-
TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS-KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-
SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-
815 PM PDT SAT MAY 11 2013

...HOT WEATHER FOR MOTHERS DAY...

STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER CALIFORNIA WILL WARM HIGH
TEMPERATURES SUNDAY AS MUCH AS 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THERE WILL
BE WIDESPREAD HIGHS AROUND 100 DEGREES ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY...AND BOTH BAKERSFIELD AND FRESNO WILL
APPROACH THEIR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR MAY 12.

PEOPLE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT ILLNESS INCLUDE CHILDREN AND THE
ELDERLY...AS WELL AS PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM CERTAIN HEALTH
CONDITIONS. THESE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORED DURING
TIMES OF EXTREME HEAT. FOR EXAMPLE...CHECK UP ON AN ELDERLY FAMILY
MEMBER OR NEIGHBOR TWICE A DAY.

KEEP IN MIND THESE ADDITIONAL TIPS DURING HEAT EPISODES...

*DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS

*STAY OUT OF THE SUN...OR REMAIN INDOORS WITH AIR-CONDITIONING...IF
AVAILABLE

*AVOID ALCOHOL AND CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES SUCH AS COFFEE...SODA AND
TEA

*USE WET CLOTHS OR BLUE COOLER PACKS ON THE FACE...WRISTS OR NECK
FOR A QUICK COOL-DOWN

*REMEMBER YOUR PETS...THEY NEED PLENTY OF FRESH DRINKING WATER AND
SHADE TO BE PROTECTED FROM EXTREME HEAT

*IF HEAT ILLNESS OCCURS...CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911
IMMEDIATELY!